July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Marion dominates sectional final rematch (04/16/03)
JCHS tennis
Marion dominates sectional final rematch (04/16/03)
PORTLAND — Jay County didn’t exactly strike fear into its biggest sectional rival.
Marion, which defeated the Patriots in last year’s sectional final, dominated the regular-season rematch Tuesday 5-0.
The Giants have won 10 of the last 11 sectional titles, with only Jay County breaking that streak in 2001. They return six of the seven players from last year’s championship squad.
“It was an enlightening experience to prepare us for what lies ahead,” said Jay County coach Deb Miller. “There’s lots of room for improvement. It puts everything in perspective for the rest of the season.”
The Patriots (1-1) struggled not only to win matches, but even sets, taking just one on the evening. That one came from Kelly Hess at No. 2 singles, but she and the No. 2 doubles team of Pinkerton and Schemenaur were denied chances at victory because of struggles in tiebreakers.
Hess rolled through her first set 6-2, but collapsed in the second to lose by the same score. She continued to have problems, falling behind 4-1 in the third set before beginning her rally.
She won the next three straight games to even the final set at 4-4 when Marion’s Katarina Fisher banged shots into the net on back-to-back points. Fisher rebounded to serve out the ninth game of the match at love, and the pair traded games before settling into a 6-6 tie.
That sparked a tie-break situation, which Fisher took control of at the end of a marathon match which lasted nearly 21/2 hours.
She won the first five points with a couple of nice volleys, a pair of winners and one great serve before Hess got on the board. But that was all the Jay County senior could muster as Fisher took the next two points to put the match away, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).
Pinkerton and Schemenaur had similar problems at the end of their second set at No. 2 doubles. They dropped the first 6-1, but had a 6-5 lead in the second before Marion’s Laura Petrucce and Jenna Mitchell forced a tiebreaker.
Five unforced errors by the Patriots helped Petrucce and Mitchell to a 6-0 lead, and Mitchell finished off the match with a volley winner for the 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) Marion victory.
“We weren’t mentally tough,” said Miller. “(Kristen) Klatt, (Kelly) Hess, Brittany (Pinkerton) and Whitney (Schemenaur) all know that these matches are doable. It’s just focusing mentally.”
Klatt won the first game of each of her two sets against Meredith Turner, but wasn’t able to keep up with the Marion senior the rest of the way.
Turner managed to pull ahead in the first set 2-1 and never trailed again. She took a 5-4 lead, leaving Klatt to serve to try to even the score.
Instead, Klatt watched a shot she thought was long fall just inside the baseline to give Turner the first set.
The second set was similar, with Turner pulling ahead 4-3. She took the next two games for the 6-4, 6-3 victory, finishing off Klatt with a pair of big serves which never made it back over the net.
Marion (3-0) topped Jay County in straight sets in each of the other two matches.
At No. 3 singles, Giant freshman Stephanie Flaig defeated Amanda Hicks 6-0, 6-0. Seniors Nancy Maidenberg and Amy Patel took care of Patriot sophomores Julie Sours and Erin St. Myers at No. 1 double, 6-3, 6-0.
The Patriots will need to work hard in a variety of areas if they hope to challenge Marion in the sectional championship match for a third straight season.
“A lot of the girls are saying serves need to be more precise,” said Miller. “Consistency in hitting and their racket skill can also improve.”
Jay County will play at Bluffton Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
Jay County did manage a couple of victories at the junior varsity level Tuesday, but still suffered a 5-2 loss to Marion.
Chelsea Reff picked up one of the wins, getting by Carling Barrett 8-5 at No. 3 singles. Niki Guntle also won her singles match over Joanna Lucas 8-3.
In other singles matches Stephanie Homan fell to Prerna Raj 8-1, Brianne Morrical lost to Emily Voss 8-2 and Jenae Horn lost to Kellese Owensby 8-1.
At No. 1 doubles Shonda Sutton and Angie Stults lost 8-3 to Alyssa Curfman and Jessie Stinnett, and at No. 2 doubles it was Jessica DeRome and Jenae Horn dropping an 8-4 decision to Sheyanna Davis and Ashley Everett.[[In-content Ad]]
Marion, which defeated the Patriots in last year’s sectional final, dominated the regular-season rematch Tuesday 5-0.
The Giants have won 10 of the last 11 sectional titles, with only Jay County breaking that streak in 2001. They return six of the seven players from last year’s championship squad.
“It was an enlightening experience to prepare us for what lies ahead,” said Jay County coach Deb Miller. “There’s lots of room for improvement. It puts everything in perspective for the rest of the season.”
The Patriots (1-1) struggled not only to win matches, but even sets, taking just one on the evening. That one came from Kelly Hess at No. 2 singles, but she and the No. 2 doubles team of Pinkerton and Schemenaur were denied chances at victory because of struggles in tiebreakers.
Hess rolled through her first set 6-2, but collapsed in the second to lose by the same score. She continued to have problems, falling behind 4-1 in the third set before beginning her rally.
She won the next three straight games to even the final set at 4-4 when Marion’s Katarina Fisher banged shots into the net on back-to-back points. Fisher rebounded to serve out the ninth game of the match at love, and the pair traded games before settling into a 6-6 tie.
That sparked a tie-break situation, which Fisher took control of at the end of a marathon match which lasted nearly 21/2 hours.
She won the first five points with a couple of nice volleys, a pair of winners and one great serve before Hess got on the board. But that was all the Jay County senior could muster as Fisher took the next two points to put the match away, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).
Pinkerton and Schemenaur had similar problems at the end of their second set at No. 2 doubles. They dropped the first 6-1, but had a 6-5 lead in the second before Marion’s Laura Petrucce and Jenna Mitchell forced a tiebreaker.
Five unforced errors by the Patriots helped Petrucce and Mitchell to a 6-0 lead, and Mitchell finished off the match with a volley winner for the 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) Marion victory.
“We weren’t mentally tough,” said Miller. “(Kristen) Klatt, (Kelly) Hess, Brittany (Pinkerton) and Whitney (Schemenaur) all know that these matches are doable. It’s just focusing mentally.”
Klatt won the first game of each of her two sets against Meredith Turner, but wasn’t able to keep up with the Marion senior the rest of the way.
Turner managed to pull ahead in the first set 2-1 and never trailed again. She took a 5-4 lead, leaving Klatt to serve to try to even the score.
Instead, Klatt watched a shot she thought was long fall just inside the baseline to give Turner the first set.
The second set was similar, with Turner pulling ahead 4-3. She took the next two games for the 6-4, 6-3 victory, finishing off Klatt with a pair of big serves which never made it back over the net.
Marion (3-0) topped Jay County in straight sets in each of the other two matches.
At No. 3 singles, Giant freshman Stephanie Flaig defeated Amanda Hicks 6-0, 6-0. Seniors Nancy Maidenberg and Amy Patel took care of Patriot sophomores Julie Sours and Erin St. Myers at No. 1 double, 6-3, 6-0.
The Patriots will need to work hard in a variety of areas if they hope to challenge Marion in the sectional championship match for a third straight season.
“A lot of the girls are saying serves need to be more precise,” said Miller. “Consistency in hitting and their racket skill can also improve.”
Jay County will play at Bluffton Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
Jay County did manage a couple of victories at the junior varsity level Tuesday, but still suffered a 5-2 loss to Marion.
Chelsea Reff picked up one of the wins, getting by Carling Barrett 8-5 at No. 3 singles. Niki Guntle also won her singles match over Joanna Lucas 8-3.
In other singles matches Stephanie Homan fell to Prerna Raj 8-1, Brianne Morrical lost to Emily Voss 8-2 and Jenae Horn lost to Kellese Owensby 8-1.
At No. 1 doubles Shonda Sutton and Angie Stults lost 8-3 to Alyssa Curfman and Jessie Stinnett, and at No. 2 doubles it was Jessica DeRome and Jenae Horn dropping an 8-4 decision to Sheyanna Davis and Ashley Everett.[[In-content Ad]]
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