Nine In A Row

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
scontomanolis@digitalsports.com

At the beginning of the Central Region girls tennis tournament Mills Godwin coach Mark Seidenberg printed the numbers 15 through one down the center of a sheet of paper.

It was a physical representation of the 15 singles or doubles matches the Eagles would need to win, and then mark off, to claim their ninth straight title.

On Thursday Mills Godwin crossed off numbers five through one as they defeated Douglas Freeman 5-0 in the finals at James River High School.

"It is our goal to play one match at a time," said Seidenberg, who has coached the Eagles since 1994. "If we look too far ahead something bad can happen."

Both Mills Godwin (19-0) and Douglas Freeman (15-2) qualify for the state Group AAA tournament. The Eagles, the defending state champs, will get a home match while the Rebels will have to travel for their contest.

"Godwin is a very good team," Douglas Freeman coach Larry Parpart said. "My girls did well to get here and they played well today, but Godwin is just a good team."

Senior Annie Larsen was the first Eagle off the court as she defeated Cabot Hunt 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3.

Teammates Mary Francis Dudley (junior) and Cathleen Crouch (senior) weren't far behind at the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Dudley beat Lindsey Teague 6-2, 6-2 and Crouch topped Carrie Arnold 6-1, 6-0.

Mills Godwin went ahead 4-0 when sophomore Nicole Parker dispatched senior Elizabeth Sutphin 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2.

"It was kinda weird going out knowing that we only had to win five matches to win regionals," Parker said. "Elizabeth is a really good player and she came out with a great start but I knew I had to pull it out for my team and I got every ball back."

Sophomore Meg Kristofak then locked up the title at the fourth spot for the Eagles with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Kelsey Burke.

With the victory at hand the last match between No. 1's Katie Blow and Elena Rusu was halted with Blow, a Mills Godwin senior and defending singles region champ, ahead 6-3, 0-1.

Earning the first round home court advantage for the state tournament is even more satisfying for the Eagles since they have only played one match at Mills Godwin all season because of the poor condition of the courts.

They were forced to play home matches at Raintree Swim and Racquet Club but the courts should be fixed in time for states.

"It was our goal to win the region championship and we did that for the ninth consecutive year," Seidenberg said. "I will have to start a new sheet of paper for states now."

Singles: Parker d. Sutphin 6-2, 6-0; Larsen d. Hunt 6-0, 6-0; Kristofak d. Burke 6-1, 6-0; Dudley d. Teague 6-2, 6-2; Crouch d. Arnold 6-1, 6-0