Streaks sweep Devils

The Sebring girls and boys tennis teams opened the season with a pair of resounding wins over Avon Park on Monday.

The Blue Streak girls defeated the Red Devils by a score of 7-0 at the new tennis courts at Sebring High School.

Sebring senior Kelsie Johnson eased past Avon Park sophomore Kayla Lockhart at No. 1 singles by scores of 6-0, 6-1, while Blue Streak sophomore Kaley Walter edged Mariah Hodge, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.

Sebring senior Shana Bassett blanked Noor Aboul-Hosh at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-0, Joy Donglasan held off Avon Park's Jessica Leitch, 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles and Freshman Lauren Taylor knocked off Red Devil Ashley Harris, 6-1, 6-0.

"We're looking forward to a good year," said veteran Sebring girls tennis coach Janie Hollinger. "A lot of our girls have some experience and the new players we've got have a lot of potential.

"We've set some goals and I'm really looking forward to seeing the girls achieve them."

Sebring completed the win as Johnson and Walter won at No. 1 doubles over Avon Park's Lockhart and Hodge, 6-0, 6-1 and Bassett and Donglasan defeated Aboul-Hosh and Leitch at No. 2 doubles by a score of 6-0, 6-0.

Sebring, which was the Class 2A-District 9 runner-up last year and qualified for regionals, has been moved into Class 2A-District 8, which includes Auburndale, Avon Park, Hardee, Lake Placid, Lake Wales, Mulberry, Poinciana and Tenoroc.

"We're in a new district with some teams we haven't played before," said Hollinger. "The top two teams from the district tournament advance to the regional competition and we want to be one of those two teams.

"Our goal is to work hard to improve with each match we play and be playing our best at district tournament time."

Avon Park, which has a fairly young squad, will improve quickly as the girls gain more experience with each match played.

"I think playing Sebring was a good experience for our girls," said first-year Avon Park girls tennis coach Amy Guerndt. "We're looking forward to improving their mental game and their confidence each match."

The Sebring boys swept past Avon Park by a score of 7-0 at the new tennis courts at Avon Park High School.

Sebring senior Mike Reed won at No. 1 singles over Avon Park's Mitchell Guerndt, 6-0. 6-0, senior Kyle Komisar knocked off Red Devil Nolan Jahna at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-0 and at No. 3 singles, Nikhil Raghuveera cruised past Sean Miller, 6-2. 6-0.

Blue Streak Brian Miller won his No. 4 singles match against Kyle Jahna, 6-0, 6-0 and Andrew Midence held off Tanner Lee at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-0.

At No. 1 doubles, Vihang Nikhate and Midence defeated Mitchell and Miller, 6-0, 6-2, and Sebring also won the No. 2 doubles match 6-2, 6-1.

"It's good to get the season underway," said Sebring boys tennis coach Jack Holt. "The weather hasn't been the best, but we'll survive and the boys have been working hard to get ready to play.

"Most of our guys have played before, have a lot of match experience and I think we're going to have a pretty strong team this year."

Sebring is back on the court this afternoon when it hosts Hardee, while Avon Park plays Hardee on Monday.