Tigers pass first test with two wins

The Central girls tennis team passed its first true test of the season Saturday, recording victories over Parkway Central and Parkway West in a pair of dual matches in the Parkway-SEMO Tournament in St. Louis.

"I learned some things about my team today," Central coach Annette Slattery said. "I know we are going to have to do a lot of drilling when it comes to positioning in doubles."

Central lost two of three doubles matches to start the morning contest against Parkway Central.

"Sometimes when you start in doubles and lose you feel you will lose against those same players in singles," Slattery said. "I told the girls that we needed to win five singles matches after losing two of the three doubles. They kind of looked at me funny, but I am not a math teacher."

The Tigers actually needed to win just four of the six singles matches, but they followed instructions well as Dani Gross (No. 1), Sarah Ford (No. 2), Monica Toole (No. 3) Paige Foley (No. 5) and junior Kristen Ford (No. 6) all recorded straight-set victories in the 6-3 triumph over the Colts.

Central won by the same 6-3 score in the afternoon at Parkway West, which had improved to 5-0 with a win against Charleston on Saturday morning.

The Tigers this time won all three doubles matches. All three teams -- Gross and Toole at No. 1, Sarah Ford and Pingel at No. 2, and Foley and Kristen Ford at No. 3 â had to rally for their victories.

Gross and Sarah Ford won convincingly at Nos. 1 and 2 singles to clinch the win. Foley also won, as the teams split the singles matches.

Sophomore Sarah Ford was the only player unbeaten on the day, winning two singles and two doubles matches.

"I played a lot of tennis in the summer, and I think that is paying off," Ford said. "I'm looking forward to the season and would love to play in the state tournament, either in singles or doubles."

Ford has made the jump from No. 5 singles as a freshman to the No. 2 spot, in essence taking the place of her sister, Brett, a state qualifier in doubles with Gross last season who now is attending the University of Mississippi.

"Sarah has really stepped up her game," Slattery said. "A lot of my girls really worked on their games during the winter and summer coming up here for lessons and clinics. I think, of all the girls, Sarah played more tournaments this summer and she is more used to playing the tough competition. She is mentally tough."

Sarah Ford won her singles match over Yelena Livina of Parkway Central 6-3, 6-2 in the morning and then came back to crush Victoria Robertston of Parkway West, 6-0, 4-0 (retired) in the afternoon.

Gross won both of her No. 1 singles matches, beating Parkway Central's Amanda Pollock 6-0, 6-4 and Parkway West's Kristen Gunter 6-4, 6-2.

"I had a tough start in doubles today but came back and played better the rest of the day," Gross said. "I think this is good preparation for us prior to the Great Eight."

The Tigers, who had opened the with a 9-0 win over Farmington on Tuesday, will participate in the Great Eight Tournament in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday.