Everett, Wash.
Published: Saturday, May 24, 2008

PREP TENNIS: Arlington's Korommelova reaches semis

Herald staff

 KENNEWICK -- The 3A girls tennis state meet was devoid of upsets Friday with all four top seeds reaching the semifinals, including Arlington's Ivana Krommelova, who faces Natalie Allen of Holy Names in today's semifinals. Allen was the top-ranked player coming out of the Metro League.

"(In the state tournament) you get to see some elite tennis," Arlington tennis coach Sean Cunningham said. "It's pressure tennis."

For Krommelova to be succesful, Cunningham said she needs to practice patience and let the rallies develop in her favor as opposed to forcing shots.

Cunningham was happy with Krommelova's play Friday when she rallied to defeat Rachel Storz of Holy Names 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. He said that as play progressed she became a more patient hitter.

"I think there were a little jitters (at first)," Cunningham said.

If Krommelova reaches the final, she will face either Brittney Reed of Kamiakin or Christina Le of Union.

"(Reed) is a phenom, basically," Cunningham said.

Shorecrest's Alena Owen won her first-round match, but lost in the quarterfinals and was eliminated in consolation play.

The Meadowdale doubles team of Sara Portesan and Liane Fijalka suffered a similar fate. The Shorecrest duo of Natalie Simpson and Kyoka Izawa lost two straight matches.

3A boys: At Kennewick, Everett's Andy Monroe and Shorecrest's Ricardo Celis both lost their first-round singles matches. Monroe won one consolation match before being eliminated. Celis went out with two straight defeats. In doubles, the Meadowdale team of Pat Donnelly and Jake Haight and the Shorecrest team of Brian Sharkey and Matt LaCourse were both eliminated with two straight match defeats.

2A girls: At Seattle, reigning state champion Lindsay Newman of South Whidbey continued her winning ways, defeating Ashley Beitz of Pullman 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals, the same score by which she beat her opening-round opponent Mari Pace of Black Hills. Today Newman faces Elise Rooney of Clarkston in the semifinals.

The South Whidbey doubles team of Victoria Comfort and Nichol Zalewski won their first-round match but lost two straight matches to exit the meet.

2A boys: At Seattle, Ryan Newman of South Whidbey lost his first-round match but won two straight consolation matches to reach today's consolation semifinals.

4A girls: At Vancouver, Elaine Baik of Kamiak and Kira Kearsley of Edmonds-Woodway both won their first-round matches, lost in the quarterfinals and won their first consolation matches to reach today's consolation semifinals. In doubles, the Shorewood team of Mackenzie Bang and Lisa Hamman and the Edmonds-Woodway team of Amanda Waldron and Michelle Nelson both won first-round matches before being eliminated in consolation play. The Lake Stevens team of Brittany Millan and Kaitlyn Jones were two and out.

4A boys: At Vancouver, the Edmonds-Woodway doubles team of Willie Guo and Ryan Cho reached today's semifinals with back-to-back victories. Chad Merkley of Snohomish and Richard Oam of Jackson both won their first-round matches but lost in the quarterfinals and were eliminated in consolation play. Edmonds-Woodway's other doubles team, Mike Stepenski and Max Ortiz, and the Shorewood team of Tristan Reni and Scott McConnel were both eliminated in consolation play.

1A girls: At Yakima, the Coupeville doubles team of Hannah Merrell and Megan Monroe lost their first two matches and were eliminated.

2B/1B girls: At Yakima, Darrington's Johanna Lentes lost her first two matches and was eliminated.
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