Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Highlander junior's string of Group A tennis victories came to a halt against Clarke County's Patrick Bartlett in the Group A state singles semifinals at Walrond Park. Bartlett, a sophomore who was Varney's victim in last year's state championship match, upset the Glenvar standout 6-4, 7-5 to advance to today's state championship match against Northampton's Mike Salvatore, who defeated Appalachia's Michael Pierce 6-1, 3-6 7-5 in the other semifinal.
Varney (18-1) who beat Pierce 6-2, 6-2 in team competition Wednesday, had won 13 consecutive matches in state tournament play before losing to Bartlett (15-0). Varney was a two-time defending singles champion and had led Glenvar to a pair of state team crowns. He also is two-time defending doubles champion.
Glenvar had little trouble moving into the team championship round by rolling over Appalachia 7-2. The unbeaten Highlanders (14-0) face Northampton (11-2) for the team crown this morning at 9. The Yellow Jackets went to the final doubles match before surprising George Mason 5-4.
The Mustangs' loss also ended a streak of success on the state level. George Mason had played in eight consecutive team championships and won six straight titles before losing to Glenvar the past two years.
Varney's luck was no better in doubles than it was was in singles. He and teammate Josh Williamson lost to Bartlett and Josh Kerr-Holbert 7-6, 6-3 so that Glenvar's only shot at a state championship this year will be as a team.
Last year, Varney beat Bartlett 7-6 (6-4), 6-1 for the singles' crown. So what was the difference?
"A year's experience,'' said Bartlett. "I played with a lot more confidence and I knew what to expect from him. I'm a little more controlled. I have more power and I've grown 2-3 inches.''
It was a strange match as Bartlett broke on top 2-0 in the first set. Then Varney won four games in a row before losing four straight.
"It seemed to be going in streaks,'' said Varney of the opening set. "I had a small letdown and lost two or three games [in a row].''
Neither player could get the upper hand in the second set until Bartlett broke Varney's serve in the 12th game to earn a trip to the finals. Varney, though, was having trouble with his serve and Bartlett was keeping the Glenvar player away from the net.
"He doesn't like long rallies,'' said Bartlett of his strategy. "He likes to get the point over quickly. Last year I was forcing it too much.''
Had Varney mastered his own serve, though, Bartlett might not have kept him pinned on the baseline. That was what the match turned on.
"I was so close to getting great serves,'' said Varney, who had several balls tip the net, forcing him to let up on his second serves. "When it was 5-5 and he was serving in the second set, I had a couple of chances to break him. Both times, I played stupid.''
Glenvar's shot at a third consecutive title face a severe challenge from Northampton according to Highlander coach Art Lawrence.
"I think both of these teams [Mason and Northampton] may be stronger than we are,'' said Lawrence as he watched the two teams complete their match about two hours after the Highlanders had disposed of Appalachia. "But we're peaking at the right time.''
Lawrence says his 4-5-6 players - Glenn Hambrick, Travis Lam and Tommy Lesperance - might be the difference because ''they're playing some of their better tennis of the year.'' All three are underclassmen, meaning that the Highlanders should do well again in the state next year, no matter what happens in today's finals.
by CNB