THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609170135
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 82 lines
The addition of the three Portsmouth schools may have done wonders for Eastern District scheduling, but it figures to have little impact on the race for the league's girls tennis title.
Churchland, Wilson and Norcom don't appear to be in position to prevent either Maury from challenging for its 15th title in the last 16 years, or Granby from posing the only serious threat to Maury.
Maury responded to a second-place finish in 1994 by sweeping the district team, singles and doubles titles in '95. Singles champion Jennifer Warren returns to lead a typically deep Commodore roster.
The Comets, meanwhile, return five of six starters from the district runner-up.
Predicted order of finish: 1. Granby; 2. Maury; 3. Churchland; 4. Lake Taylor; 5. Norview; 6. Wilson; 7. Booker T. Washington; 8. Norcom.
Capsules of the district teams:
GRANBY Coach: Bill Lloyd
Last year: Second in the district, lost in Eastern Region quarterfinals.
Key players: Carrie Hurst, Elaine McCall, Emmily Krakau, Jenny Alindogan, Kristy Alexander, April Radabaugh.
Outlook: The Comets are due. Fourth-year starters Hurst and McCall, Nos. 1 and 2 in the lineup and district doubles finalists a year ago, have performed for teams that have finished third once and second twice. Five starters return and Radabaugh comes in from Catholic to hold down the No. 6 slot. The fact that four of the players are seniors suggests Granby might not have this good of a title shot again for awhile.
MAURY Coach: Mike Pugh
Last year: Won district title, lost in Eastern Region quarterfinals.
Key players: Jennifer Warren, Amy Scholsohn, Brett Price, Gillian Field, Krystal Azoury, Darcy Cox.
Outlook: Senior Warren won the district singles title and teamed with graduated Clea Caldwell to take the doubles crown. Scholsohn, a sophomore, should fill in ably at No. 2, and Pugh says he's got great depth from 3-10. The Commodores have the potential to make this pick look very foolish.
CHURCHLAND Coach: Ken Strickland
Last year: Third in the Southeastern District.
Key players: Shannon Kennett, Beth Parker, Jessica Mann, Becky Foster, Beth Branton, Jennifer Brown, Nettie Seagraves.
Outlook: The most competitive addition to the district, Churchland returns four starters, all of whom are battling for spots. If everything clicks, the Truckers could thrust themselves into the title chase.
LAKE TAYLOR Coach: Theresa Jones
Last year: Third in the Eastern District.
Key players: Shannon Rosenbaum, Kara Matchen, Carol Papa, Brandon Johnson, Heather Weiss.
Outlook: The loss of four seniors will make title contention out of the question, but a first-division finish is realistic.
NORVIEW Coach: Ginger Rothermel
Last year: Fourth in the district.
Key players: Heidi Grace, Katie Clemmons, Nina Teano, Sarah People, Michelle Prokurat, Rachel Godwin.
Outlook: Grace, Clemmons and Teano return, but there's little else in the way of depth or experience.
WILSON Coach: David Littlefield
Last year: Sixth in the Southeastern District.
Key players: Lauri Monacelli, Tara Welch, Kendra Rascoe, Erica Davis, Carrie Holley, Kimberly Hooker.
Outlook: Monacelli, the lone returning starter, is set at No. 1, but the other five positions are wide open among players with little match experience.
If Littlefield gets the improvement he expect from the newcomers, the Presidents could improve on last year's record.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Coach: Nathaniel Baxa
Last year: Fifth in the district
Key player: Skye Dennis.
Outlook: Everyone save Dennis is a beginner, but the optimistic Baxa is predicting a top-3 finish - next year.
NORCOM Coach: Bob Wright
Last year: Eighth in the Southeastern District
Key players: Sarah McAlister, Julie Chambers, Diana Ashe, Virginia Franco, Sonya Cross, Aminah Boone.
Outlook: Wright has done an excellent job of attracting students, but having to start virtually from scratch every year makes it tough to win matches. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PAUL WHITE
Singles champion Jennifer Warren returns to lead the Commodores. by CNB