Jackson players to begin action at state tourney

Three Jackson girls tennis players will serve it up as the Missouri State Tennis Tournament begins today in Springfield, Mo.

Senior Nicole Poythress will compete in Class 4A singles, while senior Carly Vogelsang and sophomore Kelly Mitchell will team up in the doubles competition, the first appearance for each in the state meet.

Poythress qualified by placing first in the singles competition in the recent Class 4A, District 1 meet while Vogelsang and Mitchell finished second. The top two district finishers in singles and doubles qualified for the state meet. Both the singles and doubles bracket contain 16 entries.

Poythress will face a Hazelwood East player in today's first round while Vogelsang-Mitchell will face a Hazelwood Central entry.

Jackson coach Linda Adams made no predictions, but said, "It's just an honor to be a state qualifier. All I want them to do is enjoy the accomplishment, play hard and let their rackets be their guides."

Charleston's doubles teams of Britt Story/Courtney McClendon and Emily McDowell/Mindi Luehmann qualified for individual competition in Class 1A-3A.

The team competition is also being held, but no local teams qualified.