DATE: Friday, September 26, 1997            TAG: 9709250170

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   68 lines

NORFOLK COLLEGIATE SQUAD IS THE CLEAR FAVORITE

A month into the girls tennis season, the question has gone from, ``is Norfolk Collegiate the best team in the TCIS?'' to whether the Oaks might be the top squad in South Hampton Roads.

The Oaks have debuted in dazzling fashion by posting decisive victories over Eastern Region champion Cox, Eastern District champ Maury and TCIS co-champ Norfolk Academy. Their top four players have lost only two team matches the past two years.

Norfolk Academy pinned both those losses on the Oaks last season, then shared the conference tournament title with them. The Bulldogs thus loomed as Collegiate's chief rival this season. But last week the Oaks routed Academy 7-2 in a non-conference match.

This marks the first season the TCIS has played girls tennis in the fall. Previously it was held in the spring.

A rundown of area TCIS teams:

NORFOLK COLLEGIATE

The Oaks lost two matches to Norfolk Academy last year but won their 12 others by 9-0 scores. Senior Kimbrough Mauney is one of the conference's top singles players and Melissa Balaban, Karen Reina and Jayme Goldwasser all have at least two years of starting experience. Carla Benson, Lindsey Bangel and Sarah Caplan round out a talented roster. The Oaks began the week with a 5-1 record.

NORFOLK ACADEMY

The Bulldogs aren't quite as deep as a year ago but, as they are in virtually all sports, should remain a TCIS power. They're off to a 3-1 start. Nationally ranked Michelle Grover has no peer and should easily defend her conference singles title. Jessica Sperling heads a solid cast from 2-6.

CAPE HENRY

The Dolphins have emerged as one of the conference's surprise teams after winning four of their first six matches. Elizabeth Hamlet leads the way and is playing for the third time in four sports seasons. Hamlet played for Cox last fall and the Dolphins last spring. Lisa Ashinoff, Lauren Dixon, Lauren Whitbeck, Amanda Chaves, Clara Malbon, Sophia Yunas and Molly Vaughn have also contributed. The team is coached by Holly Rivers, a starter on the Old Dominion University team last year.

CATHOLIC

The presence of several seniors gives coach David Stubbs the hope that the team can improve on last season's 5-8 record. So far, the Crusaders are 2-1. Number one Michelle Phillips, Marjorie Mendoza, Laura Cullen, Mynahgi Hart and Megan Petchel are the returning upperclassmen. Sophomore Marissa Lackman should also start, and freshman help has come from Brazil in the person of Joana Riquet, a foreign exchange student.

NANSEMOND-SUFFOLK

The Saints feature perhaps the conference's most impressive newcomer in Melissa Holland, an eighth-grader from Windsor who has posted some impressive results in Mid-Atlantic regional tournaments. Kelly Walls, Ashlyn Revely, Kate Esleeck, Ginna Brewbaker and Elizabeth Jarvis are among the other key performers on what could be the conference's deepest team. Seven returners have starting experience.

NORFOLK CHRISTIAN

A tough early schedule caused the Ambassadors to struggle. Number one player Veronica Atamanchuk will lead the way in what looks to be a rebuilding season. KEYWORDS: TCIS GIRLS TENNIS

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