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Streaks Swing Past Devils In District Tennis

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Avon Park's Kayla Lockhart returns a shot on Thursday during her match against Sebring's Kaley Walter at Sun 'N Lake's courts. Walter won the match and the Blue Streaks topped the Red Devils, 6-1.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: February 28, 2009

The Sebring tennis teams had little trouble with their arch rivals on Thursday, as the Blue Streaks combined to win 13 of 14 matches in victories over Avon Park during district tennis action at South Florida Community College and Sun 'N Lake country club.

The Sebring boys swept to a 7-0 win over AP behind 6-0, 6-0 wins from juniors Mike Reed and Kyle Komisar and 6-0, 6-1 wins from top-seeded Abhi Seetharamiah, No. 4 Nikhil Raghuveera and No. 5 Vihang Nakhate.

"We have a good, tough group and we're strong," said Sebring coach Jack Holt, who noted the Streaks had an easier time than he would've liked with the young Red Devils, and that getting too confident would not be a good idea at this point in the season. "We're going to run into some tougher competition and some players who can really defend themselves, and my boys are going to have to learn a short game."

The Sebring girls, meanwhile, defeated the Devils 6-1 behind straight-set singles victories by No. 2 Kaley Walter (6-0, 6-1 over AP's Kayla Lockhart), No. 3 Alyssa Kariofyllis (6-1, 6-0 over Quinterica Gordon), No. 4 Kelsey Tucker (6-0, 6-0 over Heather Bass) and No. 5 Shana Bassett (6-0, 6-0 over Lindsey McLeod.

The match of the day came at No. 1 singles, with Avon Park's Angie Carillo claiming the Red Devils' lone match of the afternoon with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Sebring's Kelsie Johnson.

Avon Park girls coach Melinda Pollitt said Carillo took over the match when she started playing her game.

"She was playing safe and Kelsie was making her run," Pollitt said. "We had some time to talk between sets and I just told her to play her style."

Sebring coach Jane Hollinger called Carillo "steady" despite the second-set loss.

"Angie hits everything back," Hollinger said. "Kelsey really came out tough in the second set and totally controlled it, but I'm not sure what happened in the third.

"We're having a great year. We started off with a new team and the girls are dedicated. They work hard at practice every day and are staying focused."

AP boys coach Lucky Dixon said he's taking things one practice at a time with his young team, as many of his Devils played in their first-ever organized match on Thursday.

"We take our lumps and keep on ticking," Dixon said. "I'm mixing up the lineup so everyone has a chance to be at No. 1, so they can see good tennis and try to mimic it.

"They have to learn the do's and don'ts, and really learn to play between now and the end of the season."

Holt, whose team improved to 4-0 on the season, is packed with juniors, and with the talent level they've already achieved, he's looking to form complete players.

"I want them to be all-around players and we'll have a complete team," Holt said. "They still need a lot of working with, so they can realize how it happens."

Pollitt said her team's success is all about confidence.

"Each match, I hope they learn something," Pollitt said. "I want them to stay encouraged. If we got into our next match with our heads hung, it will predict our performance.

"Tennis is a physical game, but you can't get down, or it's already over."

The Blue Streak boys are back in action on Tuesday, when they host Booker, while the Streak girls travel to Sarasota to meet the lady Tornadoes. The Red Devil boys and girls host Hardee on Tuesday.

Hollinger, whose team improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in district, said Booker will be a big test for her entire team.

"We've been working hard big time on serves and consistency," Hollinger said. "And I think that's paid off so far."

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com.

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