Central netters roll past Jackson

~ Ford and Pingel team up to lead the Tigers past Jackson.

Sarah Ford and Lindsey Pingel have teamed up to win the past two district titles en route to successive trips to the state tournament. The two seniors, however, often have other things on their minds besides just tennis when competing.

"Lindsey and I gossip," Ford said, laughing. "We talk about the day. Just gossip. … Doubles is more fun because I have my partner."

Ford and Pingel had perfect days Tuesday against host Jackson. They won their doubles match over the Indians' Erinne Haff and Ellyn Beil 8-0. Both Ford and Pingel went on to earn 8-0 victories in their single matches to help the Tigers beat Jackson 8-1.

What kind of gossip were Ford and Pingel discussing when they won Tuesday's doubles match?

"I can't let that be known," Ford said, chuckling.

Central coach Annette Slattery is happy with the way Ford and Pingel have played so far this season. The tandem is 6-4. As singles players, No. 1 Ford is 6-4 and No. 2 Pingel is 9-1. Slattery said their losses came in the Great 8 Tournament when Central faced difficult programs such as Columbia Rock Bridge, Belleville West and Columbia Hickman.

"She [Pingel] plays aggressive and she goes for her shots, and she is making fewer and fewer errors when she makes her big shots," Slattery said. "That's a good sign that she is coming around on her consistency."

As for Ford, Slattery said she makes hardly any errors, which makes her so tough to beat. Again, she played a clean game against Haff.

The one win Jackson posted was by the Indians' No. 2 doubles team, Maura Neader and Alison Keiper, over Christen Edmonds and Sami Gross.

Like the Ford and Pingel duo, juniors Neader and Keiper have fun playing together and have won a number of matches.

Neader, who served an ace for the victory, has been friends with Keiper since the eighth grade when the two first got to know each other well while playing on the same volleyball team.

The next fall, Neader convinced Keiper, who had never played competitive tennis, to join the high school team. After playing with different partners their freshman season, Keiper and Neader are now in their second year as a doubles team.

"I told her we'd have fun together," Neader said.

The two have had a good time. Last year they won a first-round match at district after losing the opening set 6-1.

Again, the two came back to win Tuesday after falling behind 4-1.

"In the beginning we weren't really going for our shots," Neader said. "We were a little scared to go for our shots, but then we got together."

Keiper said she is glad she made the decision to play tennis, and both look forward to the Springfield tournament next week, when not only do they plan to compete together but also plan to shop and eat some ice cream as they did last year.

"It's been amazing on and off the court [with Neader]," Keiper said. "We're in sync with each other."

Indians coach David Brummel was happy with how the two earned the win.

"They battled back well," Brummel said. "It seems like they both provide what the other needs at the time. If one is playing well at the baseline, the other steps up and provides what is needed at the net. It's funny because per match it is different."

Singles

1. Sarah Ford (C) def. Erinne Haff 8-0

2. Lindsey Pingel (C) def. Chelsea Jones 8-0

3. Christen Edmonds (C) def. Maura Neader 8-1

4. Brooke Morris (C) def. Ellyn Beil 8-4

5. Kristi Lazarova (C) def. Alison Keiper 8-5

6. Sami Gross (C) def. Raechel Batz 8-3

Doubles

1. Ford-Pingel (C) def. Haff-Beil 8-0

2. Neader-Keiper def. Edmonds-Gross (C) 9-7

3. Morris-Lazarova (C) def. Jones-Batz 8-6