Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 28, 1991 TAG: 9103270106
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But while the Bobcats once again are stocked with talent, New River opponents seem to be closing the gap.
Last season, Blacksburg made huge strides by defeating Radford and halting the Bobcats' 10-year reign as NRV regular-season district champion. The Indians' season title gave them the top seed in the district tournament.
And that's all.
Radford, unfamiliar and unhappy with a second-place finish, pounded Blacksburg in the tournament finals to advance to the Region IV tournament, where it eventually lost to Abingdon 5-4 in the championship.
"Blacksburg really whipped our butts over there [during the regular season]," Radford coach Betty Branch said. "And it definitely helped us in the long run.
"We decided we were going to improve, and the kids concentrated and did it."
And, much to the dismay of the rest of the district, most of that resilient Bobcat bunch is back this season. In fact, five of the top six players from an 18-5 team return for Branch.
The player Branch lost was Beth King, who had a fantastic season at the No. 1 singles position. But plenty of experience and talent remain.
Branch says her top five players are very balanced. Senior Sara Young, who played No. 2 last season, and junior Hillary Johnson, No. 4 last year, probably will be the top two singles entrees.
Senior Katherine Johnson, junior Jennifer Johnson and junior Stephanie Gentry - each of whom played in the top six last season - will, in some order, fill spots three through five.
Branch said the sixth position is wide open, and she will take advantage of numerous non-district matches to experiment from a pool of several players. There are 23 girls on the team, 11 of whom are freshmen or sophomores.
Branch, who also is experimenting with doubles combinations, says things are going well early.
"I've been very pleased," she said. "With so many people, it's hard to work with them individually. And some need it.
"So the experienced ones have been working on their own skills, and I've been helping the younger ones, letting them get a feel for the tennis court."
Despite the tradition of success, the coaching staff - Branch and assistants Lillian King and Pat King - has modest goals for the team this season.
"Steady tennis - that's all I ask for. And I hope they enjoy it. We can have a good time, and if we win along the way, that's fine.
"We don't get uptight, because the sun is going to come up tomorrow, win or lose. There's not a lot of pressure on the girls."
With that relaxed attitude, the Bobcats opened their season Wednesday with an 8-1 victory over Salem.
A glance at the other New River and Mountain Empire District teams:
\ BLACKSBURG: Coach Wayne Zellers' team finished 12-2 last season, won the regular season in the NRV and gave Radford something to think about.
But the Indians have lost four of their top six players, including the top three. It may be difficult for Blacksburg to return to last season's level of play.
"If nothing else, our losses make us inexperienced," Zellers said. "Last season, the spots were pretty well determined from the year before, whereas this year, we have a lot of young talent and we're having challenge matches to figure out the ladder."
Junior Natasha Flora, who lost only one match at No. 4 last season, and senior Mary Gafford Snider, sixth last season, are competing for the top two spots.
Promising freshman Leigh Claire Leberge, juniors Sita Lepczk and Stephanie Johnson and sophomore Emily Slayton are scrambling for the other spots. There are 11 members of the team, with just one senior and five freshmen.
Blacksburg is young, but Zellers hopes last season's success makes a difference.
"Hopefully, it gave us a lot," he said. "We know we can play with Radford and Salem. We can compete with the better teams.
"We don't want to have a good team just once in a while; we want to play consistently well against good teams."
Blacksburg, which added several tough non-district opponents to its schedule this year, begins its season Thursday against Graham.
\ CHRISTIANSBURG: The Blue Demons went 1-9 and struggled last season, but second-year coach Amy Greer-Knowles has all but one player returning this season and expects improvement.
"I'll just say last year was a learning experience for me," Greer-Knowles said. "It was a time for me to feel my way through and the girls to get to know me.
"I'm looking for a good season this year. A lot of the girls worked over the summer. They went to camps and clinics, lifted weights and ran. They've looked good from the first day. We're ready to go."
Senior Terri Clark is the top singles player for Christiansburg and will be joined by senior Tammy Calloway on the top doubles team.
Sophomores Gina Babicz and Holly Reed are third and fourth, respectively, and will hook up to form the second doubles team.
Juniors Angie Schwab and Ashley Newhouse will fill the final singles spots and form the third doubles squad.
\ AUBURN: The Eagles finished in the middle of the Mountain Empire District pack last season, and this season's team of eight has just one senior and no juniors.
Auburn lost its top-two players to graduation, and last season's No. 6 player did not come out for the team.
"The girls will have to take some tough knocks early because of inexperience," ninth-year coach Kathy Duncan said. "But they're all doing well. They just need time to pick up the game and develop the basic fundamentals."
Lone senior Dee Phillips, a four-year player who competed at third singles last season, is Auburn's top player this season. She will team up with No. 2 Teresa Hodges, a sophomore, to play first doubles.
Sophomores Kim Teel and Sharon Cox will battle for the third and fourth positions. The remaining four players, two sophomores and two freshman - all newcomers to the sport - will compete for the final two spots.
\ FLOYD COUNTY: The Buffaloes enjoyed a good 1990 season, placing second to eventual state champion Grayson County in the MED and Region C.
In the region meet, Floyd led Grayson County 4-2 after the singles matches but failed to win a doubles match, and so did not advance to state competition.
This season, coach Jack Neff has just two of last season's top six returning. Junior Lori Boyd will play No. 1 and sophomore Donna Boyd (no relation) will be second.
Lori Boyd played fourth last season and lost just one match. At No. 6, Donna Boyd went undefeated.
Neff said the rest of the ladder isn't set yet, but he has a nice blend of youth and experience competing for the positions.
Floyd will begin its season April 4 against Carroll County.
\ GILES: With all her starters returning, coach Kay Rakes is optimistic this season.
Senior Dana Moye will play her second straight season as the Spartans' top singles player. Fellow senior Michelle Jennings will play second and sophomore Kim Morris third.
The bottom half of the ladder will be Emily Williams at fourth, Tonya Anderson fifth and Julie Molique sixth.
Newcomer Stephanie Clark will see playing time with Morris in second doubles.
"We were just learning to play the game at this time last year," Rakes said. "It's not going to be a cakewalk this season, but we do have more experience.
Giles will begin its district season April 12 against Floyd.
\ NARROWS: The Green Wave didn't win a match last year, so there's just one direction to go.
"We were starting from the basics last year," said second-year coach Jeff Ayers. "Now, we're getting a little more involved in skills and game-playing. I think there are a couple of schools in the district we can fare well against."
Five of the six members of the team are seniors - Laura Gentry, Christine Brackenrich, Christy Wheeler, Valerie Dunn and Crystal Robertson. Natalie Spangler, a freshman, is the other Green Wave player.
The ladder has not been established. Narrows will face Auburn on April 3 to start the season.
\ SHAWSVILLE: By the end of last season, the Shawnees didn't even have a team. This year, rookie coach Linda Ives and assistant Rhonda Crafton have 14 girls out for the squad.
The group includes many young players and several beginners, and the coaches are starting with the basics. Ives is impressed with the enthusiasm and cooperation of the players, but says there is a long way to go to get ready for the April 12 season opener.
The young players have not settled into their positions, and Ives needs more practice time to establish the ladder.
by CNB