Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506010083
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Salem's Jeff Henley, pushed to the limit so many times, refused to be put away as he struggled past archrival Robert Gibb of Blacksburg 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) in the singles semifinals on Wednesday at Radford University.
``I don't know how I did that,'' said Henley after he avoided triple match point and came from a 4-1 deficit in the tie-breaker in the second set to force a deciding set.
While the third set had its thrills, it was nothing compared to the second set. Henley, who split with Gibb during two regular season duels, once again overcame a 4-1 deficit in the tie-breaker and won the match when Gibb's return in a volley sailed behind the back boundary line.
Henley's day started badly. Although he defeated York's Carl Maymi 6-0, 6-2 in the No.1 singles of team play, Salem's bid for a third consecutive state title came to an end. York won four singles then put it away when the No.3 doubles team of Tim Stallings and Jeff Behymer won.
Even after that, Henley and Will Wimmer had a doubles' semifinal match to play. They lost 6-2, 6-4 to Virginia's Chad Jones and Hank Rainero.
Henley will play Maymi today at 1 p.m. for the Group A singles state championship. He vowed that despite spending nearly 12 hours at the courts Wednesday he would be ready for a repeat effort against Maymi.
``I just need a good night's sleep,'' he said with a faint smile.
The Henley-Gibb match was a strange duel. Gibb, who didn't stay around for interviews after the match, broke service in the eighth game and held his own in the ninth to win the first set.
At the end, Henley was reprimanded for abusing the ball and docked the first game of the second set.
In the second set, neither player held serve for 12 straight games. Gibb led 5-4 and won the first three points to create a triple match point.
Henley refused to wilt. ``I still thought I could win because no one could hold service,'' he said.
Sounded reasonable. So Henley rallied.
In the tie-breaker, Henley won the first point and then Gibb collected the next four. This time the Salem senior ripped off six straight points and went to rest for the third set.
In the deciding set, each player broke service once in the most normal tennis of the afternoon. In the tie-breaker, it was 4-1 for Gibb again when Henley rallied to take six of the next seven points. A couple came on passing shots as Gibb tried to come to the net.
``I just pulled it [the stamina] out from anyplace I could. It took everything I had,'' said Henley. ``He had a little more energy than I did because he didn't play [in team competition]. He fought to the end as well as I did. He played quite a match.''
Salem coach Mike Gibson felt Salem and York might have settled the Group AA state title, but James Monroe, which beat Virginia High 5-4 to earn a berth in the finals, might have something to say about that.
``We were more experienced and when we split sets at No. 2 [Will Wimmer], No. 4 [Peter Moran] and No. 6 [Oliver Huffman], I thought our experience would get them in the third set,'' said Gibson.
It didn't, however, as Sean Maymi, a sophomore, and Eric Ancarrow, a freshman, won along with York senior Ronnie Angelo.
Wimmer and Robert Light won in the doubles to finish unbeaten, but that was the Spartans' only success after the singles.
by CNB