Central netters reach sectional

~ The Tigers posted a 5-0 regional victory over Eureka.

EUREKA -- Central tennis coach Annette Slattery preached mental toughness to her team Monday in preparation for their Class 2 regional match Tuesday against Eureka.

The Tigers were tough mentally as well as physically, taking a little more than an hour to dispose of the Wildcats in a 5-0 victory.

The victory moves Central to the sectional round, where it will take on Nerinx Hall, a 5-0 winner against Incarnate Word. The sectional will be played in St. Louis on Saturday morning.

Central, which finished third in the District 1 tournament, won all 11 completed sets against Eureka, which had finished second.

"We wanted to try to win in singles and go home," said Central junior Christen Edmonds, who defeated Katie Hasenmueller at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-1. "We feel that with the great two seniors leaders we have that this is our best chance to do something as a team. We really want to keep it going."

The senior leaders, Sarah Ford and Lindsey Pingel, captured their matches at Nos. 1 and 2 singles. They are heading to the state tourney Oct. 19 and 20 as a doubles entry for the third straight year.

The Tigers advanced last season to the sectional, where they lost to Kirkwood 5-2. They hope to take it at least another step forward this year for Slattery, who is retiring after the season.

"I feel that this is our year," Edmonds said. "I think everybody on the team has gotten dramatically better from last year."

Central lost just 16 games in sweeping the top five singles spots as Ford, Pingel, Edmonds, Brooke Morris and Kristi Lazarova all had impressive straight-set wins. Sami Gross won her first set in a tie-breaker and was even at 2-2 in the second set when the match was stopped after the clinching fifth win for the Tigers.

"All year long we have been strong in singles," Slattery said. "We are stronger in singles than we have been in past years and were glad to start with the singles this year."

Class 2 begins with the six singles this year, while Class 1 opens with the three doubles matches.

"The girls seemed more quiet, reserved and focused today," Slattery said. "They really played well."

The quarterfinal round also will be played Saturday in St. Louis with the winner of that match advancing to the state's team tournament Oct. 18 in Springfield.

RESULTS

Singles

No. 1 -- Sarah Ford (C) def. Lindy McBratney, 6-3, 6-3.

No. 2 -- Lindsey Pingel (C) def. Marcia Klopf, 6-2, 6-1.

No. 3 -- Christen Edmonds (C) def. Katie Hasenmueller, 6-2, 6-1.

No. 4 -- Brooke Morris (C) def. Meera Shah, 6-2, 6-1.

No. 5 -- Kristi Lazarova (C) def. Shannon Ferguson, 6-0. 6-1.

No. 6 -- Sami Gross (C) led Allyson Stabner, 7-6, 2-2.