DATE: Thursday, October 16, 1997            TAG: 9710150155

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, SUN SPORTS EDITOR 

                                            LENGTH:   41 lines

GREAT BRIDGE PLAYERS FILL TWO SPOTS ON ALL-DISTRICT FIRST TEAM

Champion Great Bridge had two players named to the first-team all-Southeastern District girls tennis squad.

Transfer sophomore Gina Black (10-2) and senior Beth Hartley (9-1) were each named to the first team after leading the Wildcats to the regular-season championship over Hickory.

``They have stayed focused more than any team I have coached,'' Great Bridge coach Andrea Graham said.

``They get on the court and don't seem to be bothered by outside things.''

The two Wildcats were joined on the first team by Hickory sophomore Jessica Strickler, Lakeland senior Lisa Allmond, Indian River junior Juliana DaRocha and Nansemond River junior Violetta Dotsenko.

Strickler (12-0) went undefeated at No. 1 singles and won her second straight district tournament singles title as the Hawks advanced to the Eastern Region tournament in just their second year of competition.

``Jessica's been consistently strong,'' Hickory coach Marina Bass-Thomas said.

``It's been nice having her on top. It definitely has trickled down.''

Allmond (13-4) placed third in the district singles and doubles tournament.

Dotsenko (9-2), a foreign-exchange student from Russia, led Nansemond River to its first ever victory over Lakeland this season.

DaRocha, a foreign-exchange student from Brazil went 7-4.

Great Bridge also had two players named to the second team.

Wildcat freshman Elizabeth Cleavenger and senior Catherine Hanson each went undefeated during the regular season.

The rest of the second team was Lakeland senior Carla King, Indian River senior Kyana King, Hickory junior Michelle Withers and Western Branch junior Laura Whitehurst. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Allmond

Dotsenko KEYWORDS: GIRLS TENNIS

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