Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250039
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
Suzanne was more concerned about the results of her brother Jay's MED championship matches in Galax.
"I kept saying 'I wonder if Jay won?'" Suzanne said. "I definitely would have played better [in my match] if I had known the results of his match. I tried to call from the car phone, but I couldn't."
Though she thought fretting over the results of her brother's match hindered her performance, Suzanne still cruised to a straight set victory and her first MED crown. Immediately following her victory, in Wytheville, the Narrows clan began its journey to Galax.
Suzanne arrived before Jay's championship doubles match and displayed her trophy with a smile. A short time later she joined her brother on the court to celebrate his second district title of day. Jay captured not only the singles title, which made them the first brother-sister combination ever to do so, but he also teamed with Jason Spangler to capture the doubles title.
"When she pulled up and showed me her trophy it ... gave me my second wind," Jay said.
Capturing the titles allowed Jay to reach a goal he set his sights on in the eighth grade. After being eliminated in the first round of the MED tournament last year Webb rededicated himself to that goal. It also helped that Jay played a good friend, Fort Chiswell's Andy Altman, in the district finals.
"It's something I've always wanted and to finally get it is great," said Jay Webb, who is a senior. "I played one of my best friends in tennis, and it was more of a friendly match. I was very confident hitting the ball and I wasn't nervous."
One person who noticed the confidence in Jay's game before the MED tournament started was his coach.
"He won a playoff for the No. 1 seed [in the MED tournament] and he was just awesome," said Narrows boys' coach Steve Bienstock. "He has improved mentally and physically every year since I've been here."
One of the reasons for his improvement, according to Jay Webb has been the guidance of Bienstock , who will move Valdosta, Ga., at the end of the school year.
"He has a way with words that motivates me and helps me remain calm during matches," said Jay. "I'm not losing just a coach or a teacher, but a friend."
For Suzanne, tennis is a hobby that kills time until basketball camps begin in the summer. Instead of dedicating immense amounts of time to the game, Suzanne relied more on her athletic ability to carry her to the district crown and an 11-2 record on the season.
"She is naturally athletic and very competitive," said Narrows girls' coach Pam Monk, of her sophomore star. "She wants to win no matter what she is doing, but she is very coachable. A lot of kids don't want to be criticized, but she will ask you what she is doing wrong and work hard to improve it."
How did the Webb family deal with the siblings' historic moment? A trip to Aunt Bee's restaurant in Galax.
But the postmatch festivities were short lived. It was back to the grind for the Webb siblings as they prepared for their next tournament. Unfortunately, a Region C title was not in the future of either Jay or Suzanne. Both were eliminated in the first round of the singles competition held Monday, and Jay was knocked out of the doubles competition in the opening round.
by CNB