THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409140600
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Kempsville's Kelly Austin likes playing tennis so much, she'll stay on the court all day.
Sometimes, that's what it takes.
In Saturday's Cox Invitational team event, the Chiefs' junior and No. 1 player played nine sets, 96 games and three tiebreakers over four matches against the Falcons and Roanoke's Cave Spring.
Are we having fun yet?
``It was a lot of tennis, but yeah, it was a lot of fun, too,'' Austin said.
Part of the fun, no doubt, was the fact that Austin won all four of the matches. And in doing so, she served notice that Kempsville isn't about to concede the Beach District race to perennial powers Cox and First Colonial.
``I think we have a good chance against any team we play,'' Austin said.
Austin's efforts are also good enough to earn her The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star's initial girls Athlete of the Week award for the 1994-95 season.
Austin, a semifinalist in the Beach District tournament last season, said she's improved her match toughness after playing a series of summer tournaments. The improvement was certainly evident Saturday, when Austin had to battle for everything she got.
Ironically, the toughest match was the one in which she lost the fewest games - against Cox's Shannon Cox.
``That was hard because we're friends,'' Austin said. ``It's tough to play against someone you get along with really well.''
Not too tough, though, for Austin for pull out a 7-5, 6-3 victory.
She then teamed with with Heather McClarnon and had to save two match points before claiming a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 victory at No. 1 doubles.
Incidentally, McClarnon isn't one to shy away from long matches, either. Kempsville's No. 2 player also won all four of her invitational matches and actually played one more set than Austin.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, it wasn't enough against Cox as the Falcons still took the team match, 5-4.
The Chiefs then took on Cave Spring, prompting two more marathons. Austin and McClarnon took the doubles, 7-5, 6-4. And Austin won her singles, 7-6, 7-6. This time, the victories helped Kemspville to a 5-4 victory in the team match, 5-4.
``I wasn't trying to stay out there all day,'' Austin said. ``They were just really close, tight matches.''
Exactly the type Austin seems to specialize in playing - and winning. by CNB