Friday, June 01, 2001
N.Ky. tennis highlights
Latin's Rahali makes strong start at state
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
LEXINGTON — Covington Latin senior Miriam Rahali hasn't had time to reflect on her high school tennis career — she's too busy winning.
Rahali, the fifth seed in singles, easily advanced to the third round of the Kentucky state tennis tournament Thursday with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Ashland Blazer's Whitney Butcher.
“I haven't thought about what I've done in tennis,” Rahali said. “I'm trying to finish out state.”
Rahali won her third straight Region 12 title two weeks ago. She hasn't lost a set all season and dropped just five games.
Rahali finished second at the state tournament in 1999 and reached the semifinals last year. She said where she finishes this year isn't as important as how she plays.
“As long as I play well, I'll be happy,” Rahali said.
Dixie Heights junior Sarah Due didn't fare as well. She was beaten by third-seeded Ashley Kroh of Louisville Sacred Heart 6-0, 6-0.
Pandas start slowly: Regional champion Notre Dame seems out of the running for the team title. The Pandas have four points and are tied with Henderson County for fifth place, four points behind leaders Sacred Heart and Lone Oak.
The Pandas' chances were hurt in the first round Thursday, when Danville's Alyssa Thornton beat Megan Guenthner 6-0, 6-0 and Anna and Rachel Lask of Kentucky Country Day, the top seeds in doubles, eliminated Caitlyn Shaughnessy and Lauren Simendinger 6-0, 6-0 in the second round.
But there were some bright spots for the Pandas.
Sophomores Molly Molony and Jackie Vilines, the third seeds in doubles, advanced with a 6-0, 6-0 second-round victory over Mindy Smith and Lori Hayes of Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park. And senior Rebecca Weis defeated Laura Vilines of Greenwood 6-3, 6-2 in the second round.
With such an easy win, Molony said she and Jackie Vilines were able to work on their games. “We wanted to work on our serves and serve and volley,” she said.
Weis' win was her first at state — she and Simendinger lost in the first round in doubles last year.
“I was sick after my first match in regionals,” Weis said. “It was a little rough (Thursday) because I hadn't played.”Boys tournament
Highlands had almost its entire boys team eliminated Thursday; only senior Ben Freer, the ninth seed in singles, advanced to today's third round. He beat Ryan Cornille of Heath 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 in the second round.
Other area boys seeds: Dixie Heights senior Justin Yeager (No.6 in singles) defeated Corbin's Josh Haines 6-1, 6-2 in the second round and Beechwood's Ashley Busald and Billy Hopkins (No.4 in doubles) beat Blake Freeman and Robert Porter of Corbin 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.
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N.Ky. tennis highlights
