THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, October 21, 1995             TAG: 9510210430
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

FC GIRLS WIN REGION TEAM TENNIS PATRIOTS DOWN COX 7-2 AND NOW GUN FOR THEIR 1ST STATE TITLE IN 13 YEARS.

The First Colonial Patriots continued their dominance of area girls tennis Friday, routing Cox 7-2 for their ninth Eastern Region team title in the last 15 years.

The Patriots, who haven't lost to a region opponent since 1993, shoved the Falcons to the brink of elimination by capturing four of the six singles matches. Then Laura Bridges and Katy Walters, the newly crowned Beach District champs who haven't lost a district dual-match together in four years, won the clincher with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Shannon Cox and Adrienne Byrne at No. 2 doubles.

``Coming in we felt this match could have gone either way,'' Bridges said. ``But when it got down to the doubles, we felt pretty confident.''

The victory was First Colonial's second over Cox this season and No. 245 for Patriots coach Sharon Conyers, against just 35 losses.

Both teams will advance to the Group AAA state tournament beginning Oct. 31. Cox (12-2) will travel to the Central Region champion while First Colonial (12-1) hosts the Central Region runner-up.

Despite their dominance within the region, the Patriots are 13 years removed from their last state title. But with the defending state singles champion (Mily Kannarkat), the district doubles champs playing second doubles and four seniors in the starting lineup, Conyers feels the Pats have their best shot at a state crown in years.

``We just need to stay relaxed,'' First Colonial's Anne Crenshaw said. ``You know, just chill.''

Wary of the strength of the Patriots' doubles teams, the Falcons, who competed for nearly six hours Thursday before subduing Ferguson in the regional semis, knew they'd most likely need four singles victories Friday to spring an upset. Andrea Bussey and Andrea Stroud, at five and six respectively, came through, but the Patriots swept the top four spots.

Bridges and Walters, singles losers against Cox during the regular season, prevailed in straight sets and Nos. 2 and 3. Kannarkat added a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Shannon Cox at No. 1, while Holly Cooper took out Elizabeth Hartley 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HUY NGUYEN, The Virginian-Pilot

Cox's Elizabeth Hamlet chases down a shot her doubles match against

First Colonial Friday.

by CNB