Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 17, 1994 TAG: 9403170154
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Knock off Radford.
For 12 years, the Indians and other New River District schools sent fine teams onto the courts only to have them belted like an overhead smash by the Bobcats.
For 12 years, Radford's girls used the NRD tournament as their own personal warm-up for the regional and state playoffs. From 1981 to 1992, Radford won every single league championship. The Bobcats put together a dynasty that was probably unmatched by any high school sports program in the state.
Governments rose. Governments fell. Yet, Radford's girls continued their iron-racqueted rule of the NRD.
Blacksburg ended the Bobcats' NRD dominion last year and became the first district team other than Radford to make it to Region IV play since 1980.
The problem is, now that Radford has been vanquished, what else is there to do? After more than a decade under Radford's rule, the Indians may discover that being on top brings about even more hardships.
Blacksburg must now concern itself with fending off those in the NRD who wish to make the Indians' reign a short one.
Blacksburg will try to do that this year under head coach Terri Kirk, the Indians' third coach in as many years. Blacksburg has four players back from last year's championship squad and the Indians will receive a boost from senior Emily Gibb, who attended school in Northern Virginia last year and will probably be the Indians' best player.
The veterans - Stephanie Read, Amy Worley, Stephanie Broce and Danielle Marshall - will fill spots two through five, and Sarika Sing will play at six.
"The girls seem like they want to win," Kirk said. "We have high expectations."
A second straight NRD title will not come easily for the Indians, especially not with RADFORD in the league for one more spring. The Bobcats bring back their four top players from last year's team, the best being Cathy Richardson, the reigning NRD singles champ who begins her fourth year in Radford's top six, her second at No. 1. A basketball and volleyball standout and perhaps the school's best female athlete, Richardson has never lost a regular-season match in singles or doubles play. Her only defeats have come in the playoffs, including a three-set loss in the regional finals to Myra Stevenson of Richlands in 1993.
Also back for head coach Betty Branch are senior Ashleigh Funk (who teams with Richardson at No. 1 doubles), Lesley Nester and Indian Fulbright. All are seniors and all played in the top four last year. Competition for the final two spots could be fierce, considering that Radford's roster presently features 15 names. That in-fighting could actually help the Bobcats against their opponents, since players will have to maintain a high quality of play to maintain their spots.
The fact that this year's Group AA state tournament is in Radford this year should provide more than ample inspiration for the Bobcats to go far.
CHRISTIANSBURG is definitely the sleeper in the NRD. The Blue Demons made some gains on Blacksburg and Radford a year ago and could do so again this year with a young, but experienced, team. A couple of Christiansburg's best players graduated in 1993, but seniors Amy Powell and Rebecca Wright, juniors Amanda Helbling and Alisha Buckner, and sophomores Sue Anna Lefko and Kristi Marshall should be competitive enough to hang in there with Blacksburg and Radford. Come tournament time, Christiansburg may be good enough to pull an upset.
A rebuilding process is under way at GILES, where the Spartans and head coach Kay Rakes will try to repeat as Mountain Empire District champions. To do so, Giles will have to get by stiff opposition from perennial power Grayson County, Floyd County and maybe Fort Chiswell. No easy task, that.
The Spartans' lineup will be inverted from a year ago, with last year's Nos. 4, 5 and 6 players - Kim Cherry, Heidi Guthrie and Kari Jennelle - now playing 1, 2 and 3. Rikki Jennell has some experience and will probably play at four. The other two spots will come from a young, deep group of players.
FLOYD COUNTY should be in the hunt for the MED crown. The Buffaloes - who already have won district titles in girls' basketball and volleyball - will have to replace Donna Boyd, who graduated in 1993 after winning the MED singles and doubles championships. Cherrie Quesenberry, who teamed with Boyd in doubles, will move up to No. 1 and will be followed by an experienced group that includes Brennan O'Neill, Laura Harmon, Emily Edwards, Callie Bobbitt and Brooke Edwards.
NARROWS could be on its way to an upper-division finish in the MED this season. Senior Natalie Spangler is back at No. 1 for the second year in a row and senior Sarah Kellum and junior Meredith Lucas are back from last year's lineup and talented freshman Suzanne Webb will be a key member of the top six. Senior Tessa Turner, a good athlete who is in her first year on the squad, and freshman Amanda Clemmons will shore up the Green Wave squad.
SHAWSVILLE will have one of its most competitive teams in years under third-year coach Jeff Stuart. Four of last year's top six back, including senior Laura Neily, who enters her third year at the No. 1 spot. Neily is the only senior on a squad that features juniors Joy Simmons, Tresha Taylor and Ariel McCrumb, and sophomores Niki Creed and Shannon Radford in the lineup. A middle of the pack finish would be a step in the right direction for the Shawnees.
Youth will be served at AUBURN, where head coach Kathy Duncan has just one senior - top-seeded Kelly McPeak - on the squad. As many as four freshman - Jessica Fagg, Jennifer Harris, Holly McCoy and Emily Trivette - could play in the top six. Junior Kim Bishop will play at No. 2 this year and sophomore Angie Sale could also crack the lineup.
by CNB