THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505120222
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
THE LAKELAND girls tennis team, the first to achieve several milestones at the five-year-old school in years past, did it again Tuesday when it whipped Poquoson, 7-2, to become the first Cavalier team to win three straight Bay Rivers District titles.
``Three-peat! Three-peat!'' a jubilant Lakeland coach Anne Bender crowed.
The Cavaliers' district title-winning string began in 1993, when they picked up the first league crown in school history. That team went on to become the first Lakeland team to capture a Group AA state title.
A giant-sized picture of that team adorns a wall in the school leading to the cafeteria, and a sign noting the achievement hangs outside the school's courts.
This helps explain why there wasn't too much celebrating after the Cavaliers downed Poquoson. For while district titles are nice, the Cavaliers know there are bigger titles to be won.
``To get to state and win it, that's what we're shooting for,'' Cavalier freshman No. 5 Lisa Allmond said.
If experience plays a role, the Cavaliers (7-0 in the district and overall) should be in good shape. Four holdovers from the 1993 state championship team - Mary Donnan Debranski, Kelly Lewis, Meg Nichols and Angela Jones - are still around.
``I know (the team) has the ability and the potential, and they shouldn't be scared because this is old hat for them,'' Bender said. ``They've been there before.''
Debranski, a senior, has held down the No. 1 singles slot, with Lewis, a junior and last year's No. 1, moving to No. 2. Jones, another junior, plays No. 3, followed by promising sophomore Dawn Harrell, Allmond and Nichols. Allmond, Lewis and Jones are unbeaten in singles play.
Depth is usually the difference between state champions and also-rans in team tennis. All good teams have a few good players; the best have six. So while Lewis and Jones are unbeaten, much of the pressure in regional and state matches will shift to the Nos. 4-6 players if the Cavaliers are to join the Nansemond River basketball team as a Suffolk public school state championship unit.
``We know the top players might lose a match here and there, and they'll be depending on us to pull 'em through,'' Allmond said.
That sort of attitude is crucial, according to Bender, if the Cavaliers are to accomplish their goal.
``Everybody talks about the top half, but it's the bottom half that wins matches at this level,'' Bender said. ``My bottom half is very strong.''
The Cavaliers will have a week to tune up for their state title push after the Bay Rivers District tournament, which began Friday and concludes Monday at Lake Meade Landing Tennis Center. The Region I tournament will be played May 22-23 at Lake Meade. The Cavaliers will face the Southside District runner-up in the first round, and will most likely face Poquoson again in the final.
Poquoson sealed the district's No. 2 spot with a 7-2 victory over Franklin two weeks ago. The Broncos, one of the pre-season favorites, were hampered all season by a back injury to No. 2 player Traci Shirley.
The Group AA state tournament takes place May 29-30 at Poquoson, something the Cavaliers aren't happy about at all.
``They're upset they're not going to get to stay in a hotel,'' she said. Two years ago, the Cavaliers won the state title in Winchester. by CNB