Patriots reach tourney finals (05/20/06)

MARION — Make it a six-pack.

Jay County earned its sixth straight trip to the girls tennis sectional finals, avenging a regular-season loss with a 4-1 victory Friday over the Blackford Bruins. The Patriots will play host Marion, which defeated Mississinewa Friday, for the sectional title for the sixth consecutive time as they look for their first title since 2001.

It was a convincing victory for Jay County (6-12), which lost 3-2 to the Bruins in its season opener.

A night after retiring in the second set against Madison-Grant, Angie Stults led a Patriot singles sweep. The senior No. 1 player, who has been bothered by a back injury for most of the season, rolled to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Brittany Fancher.

Carissa Wilkins split her first two sets against Samantha Rhoton, but took control early in the third. She won the first three games of the decisive set of the No. 2 singles match and went on to a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory.

At No. 3 singles Megan Adams trailed 2-1 in the final set and was down a break. But she rallied for a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over Sara Hatch by taking five straight games.

Tiffani Bickel and Cindy Muhlenkamp scored the other Patriot point at No. 2 doubles. They cruised in the first set on the way to a 6-0, 7-5 win over Kara Peters and Cassie Twibell.[[In-content Ad]]