by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
It’s getting ridiculous.
Mills Godwin’s girls tennis team captured its 11th straight Central Region title Thursday afternoon, dispatching of Atlee 5-1 at Cosby High School.
The Eagles have won 71 straight matches. Three more will get them an unprecedented fourth consecutive state Group AAA crowns.
The numbers are mind-boggling.
“We’re trying to make history,” Eagles coach Mark Seidenberg said. “Nobody has ever won four straight in AAA. We’d like to be the first school to ever do that.”
No one who has seen this team would put it past them, as the Eagles gave Atlee its first loss of the season in a well-played championship.
At No. 1, freshman phenom Kelly Stewart continued her stellar play, beating powerful hitting, George Mason-bound Yasmin Fotovat 7-5, 6-2.
Nicole Parker, headed to Longwood after this season, dropped Shao-Ching Tu 6-4, 6-2, as both traded many long, entertaining points.
Another Godwin senior, Meg Kristofak, was the first to get off of the hot courts, topping Chirstina Shifflett 6-1, 6-1. Maddie Wood had more trouble with a pesky, consistent-hitting Madeline Wills, winning 6-3, 6-3.
Haley Moses won at No. 5 for the Eagles, 6-2, 6-1 over Shannon Heard.
At No. 6 is where Atlee got a mark, as Katharine Leitch stopped talented freshman Abigail Randolph, 6-4, 6-0.
“I think they gave their best shot,” Raiders coach Duke Price said of his Atlee squad. “They were down in most of the matches but they played their best. That’s all you can ask for.”
Both teams will play in the state Group AAA tournament, Tuesday, June 1 against Eastern Region opponents, Atlee the champ, Godwin the runner-up.
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