Blazers nearly perfect against Knights

OCT. 11, BLAZER COURTS

Blair's girls' tennis team lost just seven games today and did not lose a single set en route to a 7-0 pounding of the woeful Wheaton Knights. The victory ended a three-match losing streak, Blair's longest of the season, and improved the Blazers' record to 6-5.

It took just 30 minutes for Blair to register its first victory of the day, and by the 90-minute mark the Blazers had completed a clean sweep of the overwhelmed Knights. First singles player, junior Stephanie Paul, was the first to claim victory in a 6-0, 6-0 trouncing of her opponent. Paul dominated with an overpowering serve and effective ground strokes that used the entire court. Paul worked the corners of the court all match and her opponent simply could not form any resistance to Paul's devastating sideline shots.

Despite the ease with which she was racking up points, Paul showed the passion that Coach David Ngbea expects out of his players in every match. "She was very focused and her intensity level was very high," said Ngbea.

The three doubles matches were the next to conclude. Both the first doubles team of juniors Jahnavi Bhaskar and Dominique Franson and the second doubles tandem of juniors Margot Pass and Sarah Wolk posted easy 6-0, 6-0 victories. Junior Kiran Belani and senior Tiffany Chang assured the Blazers of a team victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win in third doubles.

The Blazers continued their dominate play with a 6-0, 6-2 victory by junior Janice No at fourth singles followed by a 6-0, 6-1 victory from third singles player senior Seema Kacker. Blair completed its sweep of the Knights with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at second singles by junior Pearl Horng. Although the Blazers put together a solid performance, many of their points were won on the numerous unforced errors committed by a Wheaton squad that could not keep even the simple volleys in play.

Blair's final match of the regular season is Wednesday against division rival Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Ngbea expects a close contest in a match he rates as one of the most important of the year and believes the key to victory will be maintaining concentration. "If we go into Wednesday's match focused, our chances of doing well will improve greatly."

After the Wednesday match at B-CC, Blair will participate in the county tournament that begins on October 22.