Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 26, 1990 TAG: 9006260064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Scott Blanchard Sportswriter
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nelson Prillaman is no stranger to an eight-hour day.
Especially if it's on the tennis court.
Prillaman, of Roanoke, played four matches on June 17 at the Charley Turner Open tennis tournament in Salem. The top-seeded singles player, he won semifinal matches in singles and doubles, lost the singles championship and won the doubles title.
Although he probably won't have four matches in a day, he no doubt yearns for another grueling afternoon on July 8, when the Virginia State Games holds its gold-medal tennis matches.
"Nelson is probably the most competitive player in the valley," said State Games tennis director Mel Fiel.
But the 30-year-old Prillaman is just one of about 100 players who have signed up for the State Games tennis tournament, to be held at six locations from July 5-8: Hollins College, North Cross School, River's Edge Sports Complex, Crystal Spring, Virginia Western Community College, Wasena Park, Walrond Park and Hidden Valley Country Club.
Games director Bob Hartman said the competition has been sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association, meaning players can earn ratings points based on their performance.
The men's and women's singles and doubles competition won't be by age group but rather in open divisions. Boys and girls competition will divided into 14-under, 16-under and 18-under categories.
"The open is an event that theoretically draws the most talent," said Larry Lineberry, tennis pro at Hunting Hills Country Club, who assisted with the tournament's set-up and will play in it, too. "We weren't sure how well the tournament would be received.
Several talented players are scheduled to compete. Kevin Manning from Arlington, who was ranked 11th last year in the USTA Mid-Atlantic ratings, was on the winning USTA National Men's 30-over Hardcourt Doubles Championship team in April and is likely to be the top seed. Alan Cannaday, a Roanoke native who won the Metro Conference singles title in 1983 while playing for Virginia Tech, may be seeded second.
Also scheduled to compete are the Timesland high school girls and boys tennis players of the year in 1989 and '90: Antonette Veloso of William Byrd and Tommy McDonald of Salem.
\ The Roanoke Athletic Club, which will host the racquetball competition, just finished a $6,500 renovation of its nine courts. But the RAC won't show off to many players, as sign-ups have been slow, totaling about 40.
"[Racquetball interest] tends to be much stronger in winter, inside," said the RAC's Bud Grey, director of the racquetball competition.
Grey said at least one high-profile player is expected to participate: Jim Bailey, a Roanoke native now living in Norfolk who is a former men's open state champion and a past singles champion in North Carolina.
Games director Bob Hartman said because of low sign-ups, there will be three men's divisions - open, B and C - and a junior division for girls and boys 16 and under. The women's tournament likely will be an open tournament, Hartman said.
Grey said competition is scheduled to being around 5 p.m. July 6. On July 7, the session is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and on July 8 at about 9 a.m.
\ Table tennis players will gather at the old gymnasium at North Cross School to compete in 18 categories. Competition begins 1 p.m. on July 6, 9 a.m. on July 7 and 11 a.m. on July 10.
Only about 15 players have signed up. Hartman said three of the nation's top-ranked players, including third-ranked Sean O'Neill of McLean, will skip the State Games to attend the Olympic Festival in Minneapolis.
One player of note expected to participate is Greg Etter of Goodview, Va., a former state junior champion. A sophomore at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, N.C., Etter is the No. 4 player in the Roanoke Valley Table Tennis Club.
by CNB