Jefferson Eliminates Loudoun Valley

Colonials Oust Vikings in Semis

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 29 -- One rematch is down, and another awaits the Thomas Jefferson girls' tennis team.

For the second straight year, the Northern Region champions knocked Loudoun Valley out of the Virginia AAA state semifinals on Friday at Huntington Park. And just like last year, Central Region stalwart Mills Godwin awaits in Saturday's 9 a.m. final, also at Huntington Park.

The Eagles (20-0) have won the past two state championships.

A year ago, Jefferson swept Loudoun Valley, 5-0, in this round. This year, a deeper Vikings team sent play into doubles after splitting the six singles matches, and Jefferson relied on Stephanie Pao and Jennifer Fang to pull it out, 5-3.

"My face hurts," said Fang, who came off the courts to a throng of teammates ready to give her a hug.

Pao and Fang, both seniors, haven't spent the season playing together, as Pao missed half of it with a sprained ankle.

"That's why it takes a little while for them to figure it out," Colonials Coach Jennifer Pierce said. "But they have great rhythm once they get it."

The Vikings' No. 2 doubles players, Kayla Sweet and Megan Music, swept the first four games and led 5-2 before Pao and Fang made an adjustment. Forgoing the traditional one up, one back formation that most high school doubles teams do, Pao and Fang glued themselves to the baseline and rallied for a 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 victory.

"We weren't being consistent," Pao said. "Sometimes safer is good."

Sweet and Music wilted when the points turned longer on a day that became uncomfortably muggy after starting out overcast. "The first set, right before we started, my legs started cramping," Sweet said. "Megan was nauseous."

At No. 1 singles, Northwest Region individual champion Kiersten Pappas wore down Natalie Kirchner, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3, in a match that lasted 2 1/2 hours, the longest of the day.

"After the second set, the most fit player wins," said Kirchner, who was gassed after showing off an array of power in the second set.

Loudoun Valley swept the top three singles matches, but Jefferson (17-2) evened it with wins at Nos. 4, 5 and 6 from Fang, Joyce Chung and Allison Smedberg, respectively. Chung and Stefani Karp picked up another point at No. 3 doubles before Pao and Fang clinched it.

Mills Godwin defeated Cox, 5-0, in the other semifinal in little more than an hour. The Eagles have won five of the past seven state tennis titles.