Central doubles team takes 12-1 record into districts

It's homecoming weekend at Central, and tennis players Kristi Lazarova and Christen Edmonds hope to make it back Saturday night with something extra to celebrate.

Lazarova and Edmonds will be spending the first part of homecoming in St. Louis. They are seeded second in the Class 2 District 1 tennis tournament that begins today at 10 a.m. at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park.

The top two singles players and top two doubles teams from that district and the other seven in Class 2 will qualify for the state meet, which will be held Oct. 24 and 25 at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.

Central first-year coach Bryce Kristal had a decision to make as whether to use Lazarova and Edmonds, who are Central's Nos. 1 and 2 singles players, in singles or to team them in doubles.

"The girls have been talking about how good the Richardson sisters [from Parkway South] are," Kristal said. "They felt that their best shot at getting to state would be in doubles."

Laura Richardson is the top seed in singles, and is a two-time state singles medalist.

Her sister Emily is seeded third. Cor Jesu's Katie Wanner, a two-year state qualifier, is the second seed.

Lazarova and Edmonds have a 12-1 record in doubles.

Two of those wins came against Jackson's Erinne Haff and Alison Keiper, who are seeded third in doubles.

"We have beaten them twice, but they were both tough matches," Kristal said. "That would be a cool semifinal. I am sure it would be very intense."

It easily would be the biggest match of the season, with the winner going to state. Both teams have work to do today to get to the semifinals.

The semis are slated to begin Saturday at 9 a.m. at Dwight Davis.

Jackson's Chelsea Jones is the other area player who is seeded. She is seeded fifth in singles.

Team scores also are kept in districts, with the top four finishers moving on to regional competition.