ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, May 30, 1996                 TAG: 9605300070
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-3  EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER


RADFORD GIRLS FULFILL PROMISE TO COACH BOBCATS ADVANCE TO GROUP A CHAMPIONSHIP

The Radford High School girls' tennis team promised coach Susan Cox on Tuesday they would do it - they would advance to the Group A championship match. The good news for Cox was the Bobcats stayed true to their word, sweeping New Kent 9-0 on Wednesday to earn a ticket to the finals.

But there was some bad news for Cox, too. Holding the other ticket is undefeated J.J. Kelly of Wise, the five-time defending champion, which advanced by beating George Mason of Falls Church 6-3.

``We kind of watched New Kent practice yesterday and I thought we could win this one, but I didn't think it would be that easy,'' Cox said. ``I've already heard the girls starting to talk about J.J. Kelly's record, but we have a good record, too. We're at the peak of our games right now and I think we can do it

The Bobcat's No.5 seed, Erin Yopp, set the tone Wednesday by making quick work of Ginny Morrow 6-0, 6-1 to record Radford's first victory of the match. The rest of the Bobcats' top five polished off their matches, securing the team victory even before top-seeded Mandy Harless was finished playing. Harless went on to defeat Lynda Davis 6-3, 6-4 to complete the sweep.

``We had a really good practice yesterday, and today they did everything I asked of them and even better than I had expected,'' Cox said. ``They always told me not to yell, but this time it looks like the yelling paid off.''

The Bobcats won the Region C championship in similar fashion, securing the victory before the doubles matches began. With the resulting absence of pressure, Cox said her players took a casual approach to the doubles and ended up losing two of three matches.

Cox and fellow coach Betty Branch wanted to avoid a repeat performance Wednesday. Their instructions to the girls were to continue playing hard no matter what happened. They did.

The Bobcats took all three doubles matches in straight sets and will look to continue their winning ways today.

In the individual competition, Ashleigh Sarver of Bland advanced to the final with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Dera Leigh Wood of J.J. Kelly 6-1, 6-1. She will meet Kristen Hull of Buffalo Gap, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Davis of New Kent.

NOTE: Please see microfilm for text.


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