AREA TENNIS TEAMS LOOK TO MAKE RACKET

Some things in this world are certainties, like death and taxes.

And in recent years, you can add one more thing to the list -- an undefeated dual-match season for the Cape Girardeau Central High School girls tennis team.

The Lady Tigers have gone 12-0 in duals each of the last three seasons and all three campaigns were capped by Class 4A district tournament titles.

Central will be aiming for a fourth straight perfect dual season this year while another area squad, Charleston, will be gunning for its seventh straight Class 1A-3A district crown.

Jackson, which has also been one of the area's better teams in recent years, will shoot for another successful season, as will Fredericktown, while Chaffee continues to face the daunting challenge of being the area's smallest tennis-playing school.

Following is a preview of how those five local teams stack up as the girls tennis season gets under way in the several few days.

Cape Central

Coach Annette Slattery figures her Lady Tigers could have their work cut out for them as they seek another perfect dual-meet season.

"I think our competition will be better this year," she said. "I look for Poplar Bluff to be really good. They have everybody back. Jackson and Charleston usually have good teams and they should be strong again because they both return some good players."

Still, Central should definitely have a shot at perfection again. And that is certainly the Lady Tigers' goal, along with winning another district title.

"We should be good. I can tell they've all put in a lot of time over the summer," Slattery said. "My seniors tell me one of their goals is to be undefeated again."

Central returns four of its top six players from last year but graduated one of the top talents this area has seen in some time in foreign exchange student Eliane Hess, who placed third in the state meet.

The Lady Tigers return one state qualifier in senior Liz Russell, who made last year's state meet in doubles. Other varsity regulars back are seniors Sarah Chaudhari, Kelley Green and Jessica Burns.

Five other players, all returning squad members, are battling for positions in the top six: seniors Rebecca Bieser, Leslie Wagoner and Beth Bishop; and juniors Trisha Bennett and Hannah Weir.

Central opens the season Aug. 31 at Poplar Bluff.

Jackson

Armed with four returning regulars and one of the area's top young players, Jackson coach Linda Adams expects to field a strong team.

"We're looking good," said Adams, whose squad went 9-4 last season. "I think we'll have a solid team. They're all working hard in practice, they all have good attitudes and they're all working together as a team.

"The players realize it's a team effort. They all pull for each other and I think that's important."

Seniors Annie Lefebvre and Brooke Stephens, along with juniors Nichole Poythress and Sarah Propst, were all varsity regulars last year and should be strong this season.

Adams also expects promising freshman Kim Anderson to be among the Lady Indians' top players. Anderson has been impressive in area and regional tournaments over the past few years and appears to be one of the area's rising female tennis stars.

Junior Maggie Martin, who played JV last year, should round out the varsity lineup.

According to Adams, perennial power Cape Central will once again be the area's team to beat.

"They're always so strong and they should be again," Adams said. "Annette is a good friend of mine and she's a great coach. I've learned a lot from her."

Jackson pla ys its first match Wednesday at Chaffee.

Chaffee

Youth will be the word for the Lady Red Devils, who went 2-12 in dual matches last season playing exclusively larger schools.

Coach Amanda Horrell will have as many as five freshmen playing key roles.

"It's always tough for us because we're a small school playing mainly bigger schools," said Horrell. "We've got a real young team this year, but the skills of the freshmen are already pretty good. I think we can be fairly competitive."

Chaffee has two seniors on the squad, led by Kristin Bailey, one of last year's top player who figures to be the Lady Red Devils' No. 1 this season. The other senior is first-year player Kim Schott.

The team's lone junior is Courtnie Harris while the only sophomore is Callie Meyr. Both were varsity regulars a year ago.

Horrell has five freshmen in Lauren Everrett, Nicole Poe, Amanda Clark, Kate Pfefferkorn and Brittney Bennett.

Chaffee opens up Wednesday at home against Jackson.

Charleston

The dynasty continues at Charleston, which has won six consecutive district championships.

While Charleston graduated two standout players from last year's 13-2 squad, including four-time state qualifier Jenny O'Rourke and state qualifier Whitney Delay, coach Mitch Baker has four returning varsity players and is excited about the season.

"We lost two very good players, but I'm real optimistic," said Baker. "I think we'll be pretty solid, competitive with everybody we play. The girls are doing everything I've asked and then some. When I leave practice, most of them are still out there playing."

Charleston will be led at the top of the lineup by four returning seniors: Katie Whitehead, Elizabeth Rowe, Jodi Bledsoe and Tonya Nolen.

"You feel pretty good when you've got four seniors at the top," Baker said.

Baker said competition for the other varsity spots is extremely fierce, with a host of players in contention. Among them are juniors Lauren Carlisle and Krissy Rolwing, along with sophomores Emily McDowell, Britt Story and Courtney McClendon.

Charleston begins play Thursday, hosting Caruthersville.

Fredericktown

The Lady Cats have a new coach, Becky Sykes, and the squad lost many of its players from last year's team that was Mineral Area Activities Association co-champion with North County.

But Sykes expects Fredericktown to field another solid squad.

"I think everybody is looking for us to be real competitive," said Sykes. "

Fredericktown will be led by senior Erin Kinder, a returning 1A-3A state qualifier who has been Fredericktown's No. 1 player the past few seasons. The only other returning varsity player is senior Hazel Rauls.

The Lady Cats will also look to contributions from juniors Becky Baines, Libby Matthews, Angie McDaniel and Hannah Royer, along with sophomore Amy Walker.

Fredericktown opens the season Thursday at home against Potosi.