THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610040214
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 45 lines
A dramatic 5-4 playoff-round victory has left Nansemond River's girls tennis team one win away from joining the Warriors' golf team as participants in Eastern Region competition.
The tennis team, which tied Hickory and Great Bridge for second place in the Southeastern District regular season, will face the Wildcats Monday (time still to be determined) at Lake Meade Landing for the district's second regional berth. Lakeland already qualified for the region by winning the district regular-season title.
The Warrior golfers advanced to the regionals Tuesday by winning the Southeastern District tournament.
``I don't think a lot of people expected us to be in this position,'' said Nansemond River tennis coach Chavez Mabry, whose Warriors were picked to finish fourth by The Virginian-Pilot.
Rebecca Sherard and Lindsay Duke, the Warriors No. 2 doubles team, were the heroes in the victory over Hickory. Their 10-6 win over Allison Burnop and Michelle Withers came with the team score deadlocked at four.
Nansemond River also got victories from Sherard (No. 3 singles), Cynthia Evans (No. 4), Megan Grady (No. 5) and Evans and Deniz Sevgur (No. 3 doubles).
Wednesday's victory allowed the Warriors to avenge a 5-4 loss to the Hawks during the regular season. Duke missed that match after twisting her ankle walking down stairs in her home. The injury also sidelined Duke for the Warriors' 5-4 loss to Lakeland.
``Getting Lindsay back in the lineup was big for us,'' Mabry said.
Nansemond River beat Great Bridge, 5-4, when the teams met in the regular season. Monday's playoff match was originally scheduled for Friday, but it was postponed because of Nansemond River's homecoming.
``I think they were sort of expecting Great Bridge to play Hickory,'' Mabry said.
Mabry added that regardless of Monday's outcome, his Warriors will still be able to reflect on a successful season.
``I just want them to go out there and have fun and try their hardest,'' the coach said. ``As long as they don't go out there slacking on me, I won't get upset.''
Monday's winner will play the Eastern District champion - the winner of Tuesday's Maury-Granby match - in the first round of the regional tournament.
KEYWORDS: GIRLS TENNIS by CNB