DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710240249

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   62 lines

KANNARKAT WOULD LIKE TO DOUBLE HER PLEASURE AT STATE TOURNAMENT

Mily Kannarkat's name is firmly etched in the Group AAA girls tennis record books for her magnificent run of singles victories.

But one thing has eluded the First Colonial senior - a state doubles crown.

Playing alone, Kannarkat has a 75-1 singles record and a pair of state titles. She has won four straight Eastern Region singles crowns - more than any other player. She has also won the region doubles title four times with two different partners.

But the buck has stopped there.

Kannarkat advanced to the state finals as a freshman and sophomore with Anne Crenshaw as a partner, but lost in the state quarterfinals last year playing with Becky Schmidt.

Kannarkat and Schmidt will give it another try Nov. 7-8 in northern Virginia.

Schmidt thinks this is the Patriots duo's year. But that's to be the case, a few things will have to change.

In the region final, the Kannarkat and Schmidt met a youthful Great Bridge team of Gina Black and Elizabeth Cleavenger - a balanced tandem that gave the Patriots fits before losing the first set 6-4.

But in the second set, Kannarkat took over - hitting powerful ground strokes and charging to the net for some nifty put-aways and a 6-0 victory.

Other than serving, returning serve and a getting a few at-the-net kills, Schmidt wasn't much of a factor - opting to let several easy chances buzz by for her teammate to take.

``She calls me off a lot,'' said Schmidt. ``Mily kind of wants to do it all.

``We'll have to prepare better and get more strategies if we want to do better.''

No doubt. But it can be done easily.

When she was active, Schmidt made some nice plays at the net - most of them for winners. All she has to do is get more involved in the action.

And while Kannarkat and Schmidt are trying to mix things up better, look for the Wildcats duo to do pretty well. Cleavenger, a freshman, and Black, a sophomore, showed they'll be a force for the next two years.

In the state singles competition, don't be surprised if Kannarkat sweeps the field as easily as she's done all season.

Although the two-time state champ's serves aren't the hardest around, her ability to hit winning ground strokes and attack the net are in peak form. And if opponents charge the net, they will likely get burned by one of the best defensive lobs going at the high school level.

``I'm excited about it,'' Kannarkat said. ``I want to go out with a bang. Hopefully I'll get another state title, and I'd love my first one in doubles.

Also competing in the singles portion of the state meet, will be Kristin Moran of Cox, the runnerup to Kannarkat in both the region and district tournaments.

Moran will first try to help her Falcons in the team competition that begins with Tuesday quarterfinals.

Cox will host Northwest Region runnerup Stafford High, while Tallwood will travel to Roanoke to take on Northwest champion Patrick Henry.

Semifinals and the championship are Friday at Saturday at Woodbridge High. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

First Colonial's Mily Kannarkat

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