Girls tennis aces Seneca Valley, evens record

The girls' Division I tennis team scorched Division III Seneca Valley High School Thursday, Oct 4 in a series of sweeping victories that came to a 7-0 win, bringing Blair's season record to 3-3.

Blair's top four singles players and second doubles team swiftly defeated their less experienced opponents in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. First and third doubles also seized victories decisively, winning 6-0, 6-3 and 6-0, 6-1, respectively.

The team's victory was a welcome relief after two consecutive divisional losses the same week against Whitman and Churchill high schools, both top Division I teams.

Against Whitman, senior co-captain Jennifer Alyono fought an arduous two-hour-and-45 minute, three-set match, but was eventually defeated 4-6, 6-3, 3-6.

Alyono, at first singles, attributed her loss to her inability to strategically place her shots and match her opponent's powerful strokes. Nevertheless, she was more than satisfied with her performance. "[The match] was one of the best games I've played this season. Even though I lost, I served well, and whenever I got to the net, I was able to put the ball away," Alyono said confidently.

Third doubles pair of junior Christina Feng and sophomore Katherine Epstein exhausted their strength in a three-hour match. The duo took the first set after a grueling tie-breaker (8-6) but lost momentum and reluctantly handed over the victory to Whitman 6-1, 6-4.

Epstein explained that Whitman's consistency and endurance were major factors in the pair's tiresome defeat. "We didn't push enough at ad-ins," she said. "We were trying hard, but [the games] kept going to deuce and that wore us out."

Although Blair suffered a major blow to its divisional record, which stands at 0-3, Coach David Ngbea contended that the team is capable of playing better. "I don't expect us to go there and be equal to Whitman," said the coach. "I expect us to go there and give the very best. My disappointment wasn't because we lost but because we didn't play our best."

Despite his moderate criticism, Ngbea hopes that the girls will fine-tune their skills in time for an upcoming divisional match at Magruder on Monday, Oct 15. Blair will also resume its critical match again Division I Sherwood, which was halted due to rain on Sept 24. The Blazers were leading three matches to none with the first doubles match one point away from sealing Blair's single divisional win when play ceased