Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 2, 1993 TAG: 9304020238
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BRIAN DEVIDO SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
TALENT YES, DYNASTY NO IN BOBCAT GIRLS TENNIS
A word to the wise: don't use the "D-word" when talking to Radford girls tennis coach Betty Branch.She doesn't want to hear it.
Although the lady Bobcats have won 13 straight New River District titles and 11 of the last 13 Region 4 titles, she simply refuses to label her team a dynasty.
"Luck, yes; talent, yes; athletes, yes; dynasty, no," Branch said. "I don't go out and set goals every year saying we have to win this and win that. We go out to practice, work hard and have a good time. If somebody beats us, then more power to 'em."
That losing part hasn't happened lately. The Bobcats were 16-1 last year and won - what else? - the district and regional crowns.
But Branch thinks it could be a different story this year, especially after losing her top three players to graduation.
"Blacksburg will be the district favorties," she said. "They practiced indoor all winter and we didn't. But we'll be there. We'll fight."
Leading the charge will be Cathy Richardson, who finished 16-1 at the No. 4 slot last year. The Nos. 2 and 3 slots go to Ashleigh Funk and Lesley Nester, respectively. Funk was the No. 5 player last year and Nester was No. 6.
But Branch isn't counting her team out.
"We're green, but I've won districts and regionals with younger teams," she said.
Radford already is 2-0, with wins over Floyd County and George Wythe.
Also in the New River Valley:
\ BLACKSBURG looks to end Radford's string of district titles.
The lady Indians finished second to Radford last year and return Stephanie Reed and Amy Worley.
Reed will hold down the top spot after playing fourth last year and Worley will play at No. 2. Worley was 13-1 at the No. 5 spot last year. "Our players improved a lot over the summer," Blacksburg coach Susan Cox said. "The goals this year are to win the district and beat Radford."
The Indians are 0-1 after losing to Salem this week, 7-2.
\ CHRISTIANSBURG is coming off a 3-9 season and a third-place finish in the New River District. Things aren't looking good early as Holly Reed, who was expected to play in the No. 3 spot, can't play due to grades. Reed and Gina Babicz, who holds the top spot this year for Christiansburg, finished second in the district doubles competition last year. "It's gonna hurt us, but it's not gonna kill us," said Christiansburg coach Amy Greer-Knowles.\ \ FLOYD COUNTY fields a team with experience and depth. Most of the top six played in competition last year. The Buffaloes are coming off a 9-3 season and a second-place finish in the Mountain Empire District. Donna Boyd is back at the top spot after finishing second in the district in singles and doubles competition last year. "I can count the number of losses she's had in four years on one hand," Floyd Country coach Sue Hollindsworth said.
\ GILES will have a lot of experience at the pressure positions. The Spartans return four starters from last year's 8-5 squad that finished third in the Mountain Empire District. Kimberly Morris, Katherine Coffey, Tonya Anderson and Kim Cherry round out the top four.
\ AUBURN will be hurt by the losses of three starters from last year. Sharon Cox, who was Auburn's No. 2 player last year, and the Nos. 3 and 4 players from last year chose not to play this year, Auburn coach Kathy Duncan said. "That hurt us quite a bit, but the kids are working tremendously hard," she said. Teresa Hodges returns as last year's No. 1 player.
\ NARROWS hopes to find the win column this year after finishing 0-6 last season. The team is inexperienced, as no player on the team has played tennis for more than two years, Narrows coach Wayne Brackenrich said. But four starters from last year return, and that's good news for Brackenrich. "If we're lucky, we could end up over .500," he said.
\ SHAWSVILLE also hopes to win a couple after finishing 0-7 last year. Four starters from last year return, including the top two players, Laura Nieley and Carmen Price. "I'm impressed with their attitude so far," Shawsville coach Jeff Stuart said. "They know they're improving."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***