Patriots tumble in OAC (04/28/03)

PORTLAND — Connersville made sure it would be in the mix for a conference title, then fought off Huntington North (6-1) in the final match of a Saturday triple-header. Jay County wasn’t in the mix.

The Patriots (3-4) managed just three wins in 10 varsity matches Saturday, falling to Connersville 3-2 and Huntington North 4-1 on the most important day in determining the Olympic Athletic Conference champion.

At 7-0 overall, and with two wins Saturday, the Spartans are now in control of the OAC.

Kristen Klatt was the bright spot for Jay County, winning both of her matches on the day at No. 2 singles. Kelly Hess, No. 3 singles, had the only other Patriot victory.

Klatt didn’t make anything easy on herself, especially getting her back against the wall against the Vikings. She dominated the first set against Tara Rao 6-2, but crumbled in the second to fall behind 4-1 on the way to a 6-3 defeat.

Her struggles continued in the third set as she went down 2-0. She trailed 40-love in the third game, but picked up the next two points on an ace and a tremendous cross court winner before losing again.

The flash of brilliance on those two points carried over.

Klatt did not lose another game on the way to a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory. She pulled even, then moved ahead 4-3 with an overhead slam to end the seventh game.

Rao forced her to deuce three times in the ninth game, but had nothing left to give against the Jay County senior. Klatt eventually took the advantage with a nasty serve and then won a point later when Rao banged a shot into the net.

“It was all mental,” said Klatt. “I was tired of not playing my game, so I decided I was going to, and after that I won six straight games.

“I need to be mentally strong the whole way through.”

Klatt also went three sets in her first match of the day against Connersville’s Kristan Kanorr.

In that match Klatt lost the first set, but came back from a 4-3 deficit to win the second. She won back to back games for a 5-3 lead and took the set as she served out the final gave at love.

The third set was no contest as Klatt took the first five games. Kanorr managed to hold off the inevitable for two games, but eventually fell to the 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 defeat.

“It was long,” said Klatt of her day. “All I have to say is it’s a good thing I’m in good condition. It was fun though.

“I’m getting more and more confident with every match now.”

“We’re still working on her confidence,” said Jay County coach Deb Miller, “we’re still working on her mental skill. She did have some pretty good serves today though.”

Hess notched the only other win of the day against Connersville’s Libby Smith, playing some of her best tennis of the season after falling into an early hole. She trailed 3-1 when she began use brilliant serves and well-placed shots to catch Smith out of position.

Pushing ahead 6-5, Hess avoided a tiebreaker and took the first set on three straight serves which were never put back into play. The momentum never shifted again, as Hess used the same serves and shots to roll in the second set on the way to a 7-5, 6-0 win.

“Kelly was playing better,” said Miller. “She had some good placement.”

“She made herself come back,” said assistant coach Mary Reinhart. “She didn’t give up.”

In other matches against Connersville Daniela Harringer lost to Sara Wilhoite 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, Erin St. Myers and Julie Sours fell to Lynne Ross and Dawn Leising at No. 1 doubles 6-3, 6-4 and Erin Schmiesing and Whitney Schemenaur dropped a 6-3, 6-0 decision to Jessica Frasher and Shay Hudson at No. 2 doubles.

Harringer suffered a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Ennea Fairchild of Huntington North in her second match. Her matches were similarly hard-hitting contests, with Wilhoite and Fairchild winning by being a bit more consistent and precise.

Hess had trouble with the left-handed Erin O’Leary in her second match in a 6-2, 6-2 defeat.

In doubles action St. Myers and Sours lost to Darci Teusch and Laura Hohe 6-4, 6-4, and Schmiesing and Schemenaur fell against Melissa Schnepp and Britianie Rai after winning easily in the first set, 0-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Miller said she wasn’t disappointed with the way her team played, but “we still have a lot of work to do before the end of the season.

“We need to be able to put the ball away,” she said. “Until the girls are willing to play at that level — put some venom behind that ball — we’re going to continue to strive to reach that level.”

Jay County hosts South Adams today at 4:30 p.m.

Connersville defeated Huntington North 3-2 in the final match of the triple-header.

Leading the way was Wilhoite as she stomped Fairchild 6-0, 6-1. Kanorr topped Rao at No. 2 singles for a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory.

The Spartans captured the match as Frasher and Hudson got by Schnepp and Rai 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.

Huntington North’s victories came at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles. O’Leary defeated Smith 6-4, 6-3, and the team of Teusch and Hohe topped Ross and Leising 6-4, 6-3.

Junior varsity

The Jay County junior varsity team had similar struggles Saturday, losing to the Spartans and the Vikings by matching 4-2 scores.

Brittany Pinkerton picked up one of the victories against Huntington North, topping Jessica Spraol 8-4 at No. 1 singles. The other win against the Vikings came from Niki Guntle and Brianne Morrical at No. 1 doubles over Sharon Ballard and Liz Hull, 8-6.

Amanda Hicks picked up the lone singles victory against Connersville, defeating Kristen Malone by an 8-3 score. Stephanie Homan and Jenae Horn defeated Jennifer Lingg and Kerry Harmeyer at No. 3 doubles 8-6.[[In-content Ad]]