Published: April 17, 2008 12:21 am            

TENNIS: Doubles a pleasure for New Albany

JEFFERSONVILLE — New Albany used its doubles teams to grab control of Thursday’s match against Jeffersonville, prevailing in the battle against their arch-rival, 4-1.

The Bulldogs cruised in straight sets at both doubles positions and carried that momentum to their second straight victory.

“They’re very good,” said Jeff coach Mark Reilly. “We knew their doubles teams would not be easy to overcome.

They weren’t.

The No. 1 doubles tandem of Kaitlin Tretter and Sarah Nale scored a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Landi Gaither and Susan DiTeresa. New Albany’s No. 2 doubles squad of Deidra Fetz and Kaitlyn Focken also won, 6-3, 6-1 over Danielle Eckert and Christie Hubbard.

“I’m real pleased by both doubles teams,” said Bulldog coach Bob Dusch. “They played very strong.”

The third victory of the day for New Albany came at the No. 3 singles spot, where freshman Hayley Ryan Haws overcame a shaky start to down Dee Roehm 6-4, 6-3.

“Hayley, early on was a little overaggressive,” said Dusch. “She was coming into the net too early and not letting the match come to her. She settled in nicely and played a good all-around match.”

The team split the two longest matches of the day, with New Albany No. 1 singles player Kylia Sullivan rallying to beat Katherine Clark in three sets, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

“(Sullivan) came back and really played a strong third set,” said Reilly. “She jumped ahead 3-0 and 5-1 and it’s not easy coming back from that.”

Jeff’s victory was via Michelle Roberts, who downed Kylie Crecelius in a long two-set affair 7-6 (7-1), 7-5.

Jeff coach Mark Reilly knew his team needed a strong singles effort to score a victory.

“Doubles is an area where we have young kids playing right now and with the players they have playing those spots, we felt like we were going to have to come in and get three wins in singles.”

Both teams compete in the Jeffersonville Invitational on Friday and Saturday.



New Albany 4, Jeffersonville 1

Singles — Sullivan (N) d. Clark 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; Robert (J) d. Crecelius 7-6 (7-1), 7-5, Haws (N) d. Roehm 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles — Tretter-Nale (N) d. Gaither-DiTeresa, 6-1, 6-1; Focken-Fetz (N) d. Eckert-Hubbard 6-3, 6-1.

        

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