DATE: Sunday, November 9, 1997              TAG: 9711090150

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   38 lines

FIRST COLONIAL'S KANNARKAT IS 1ST 3-TIME AAA GIRLS TENNIS CHAMP

First Colonial's Mily Kannarkat finished her remarkable high school career Saturday by downing Centreville's Laura James to become the state's first three-time Group AAA girls tennis singles champion.

The 6-4, 6-3 final-round victory at the Burke Racquet and Swim Club left Kannarkat with a 15-0 record this season and a 78-1 career mark but without the words to describe her accomplishments.

``I don't think it's totally sunk in yet,'' the Patriots senior said.

Kannarkat said she prepared for the final as though she had nothing to lose, then played that way in racing to a 3-0 first-set lead. The Centreville sophomore, who finished third in the state last year, fought back but couldn't pull even or prevent Kannarkat from serving out the set.

The second set was marked by seven straight breaks of serve until Kannarkat held for 5-3. She then closed out the match when a James backhand sailed wide.

``I didn't think it would be appropriate to start jumping up and down,'' Kannarkat said. ``And I don't think I'd do that even if it was. But it was a great feeling.''

The loss was the second for James (20-1) in two career high school meetings with Kannarkat. The Patriots star also defeated James in last year's state semifinals.

The only blemish on Kannarkat's record came two years ago, when Douglas Freeman's Briget Bruner won a three-setter over an ailing Kannarkat in the state semifinals.

Bruner also prevailed in the final match of Kannarkat's high school career, as she teamed with Mary Lahy to defeat Kannarkat and Becky Schmidt, 6-4, 6-4, in the state doubles semifinals. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

First Colonial's Mily Kannarkat finished the season with a 15-0

record and her high school career with a 78-1 mark.

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