Jacksonville readies for state tourney

By Lori Tippets

Highschoolgameday Staff Writer

 

     JACKSONVILLE-Despite the fact that the Jacksonville High School girl’s tennis team has no seniors, the team is full of experience.

 

     With five juniors and two sophomores making up the singles and doubles teams, most of the girls have three or more years of team play under their belts. Three of them, No. 1 seed Emily Gray, No. 3 seed Chelsea Chandler, both juniors and No. 4 seed Ellen Godbey, a sophomore, have all played for the Lady Eagles since the seventh grade.

 

     Jacksonville coaches, Brent Boatwright, who has been with the program for seven years, and Andra Lyons who is in her first year, know that the depth of experience is going to be a major plus for the Lady Eagles as they take to the courts in Mobile for the state tennis finals.

 

     The Lady Eagles put together an impressive regular season with a 7-2 record, losing only to Donoho on clay courts, and to Oxford when three of the six players were gone for band competition. Jacksonville would get redemption later in the year beating both teams at home.

 

     No. 6 seed Carrie Victoria has an unblemished record, while No. 3 seed Chelsea Chandler has lost only once, at Sectionals.

 

     While not dominating Sectional play, the Lady Eagles won sectional championships from Elizabeth Case at the No. 2 seed, Jordan Yancey at No. 5 and Victorian at No. 6.

 

     The doubles teams of Case and Godbey and Yancey and Nicole Geier also posted wins to give the Lady Eagles the sectional championship by a six point margin over runner-up Cherokee County.

 

     Both Boatwright and Lyons expect a strong showing from their team at the state finals. Lyons stated that she expects her team to be able to compete, and have a good shot at being in the finals. “The team as a whole enjoys playing together,” says Lyons. “They like one another and from top to bottom are excellent in each position.”

 

     Boatwright echoes Lyons opinions; “This girl’s team is the deepest girl’s team I’ve ever had. From No. 3 to No.7 they are all so close.”

 

     Anchoring the team at the No. 1 seed, Emily Gray has the most experience, to include state experience. Having played since the 7th grade Gray has made it to the state finals in the 8th grade when the whole team qualified, and last year qualifying as the No. 1 seed.

     “Emily has a lot of power and finesse,” say Lyons. “She has been in so many different tournaments, and so many tough situations.” “She brings a complete game,” says Boatwright. “She does everything well and does what is right.”

 

     At the No. 2 seed is a girl with the least amount of experience, Elizabeth Case, daughter of JSU baseball head coach Jim Case. But what Elizabeth lacks in years of experience she has made up with athleticism. “She has never forgotten anything I’ve told her. She always does the little things right, always returns the shot,” observes Boatwright. Lyons comments, “Elizabeth has traveled through the ranks quickly. She is very consistent.”

 

     Chandler at the No. 3 seed shows a lot of power on the court and has a very strong serve.

 

     At the No. 4 slot Godbey also shows a lot of consistency with a very nice serve.

 

     Without a doubt the most improved player on the Lady Eagle squad is Jordan Yancey playing at the No. 5 slot. “Jordan has improved more than any player I’ve seen,” comments Lyons. “She has power and wonderful placement.”

 

     Victoria, playing at the No. 6 seed is new to JHS this year, but won’t be new to the state finals as she appeared there last year with her team from South Alabama.

 

     Nicole Geier, the seventh player on the girl’s squad, teams up with Yancey in doubles. Lyons feels that the double pairings are very strong with each of the girls being paired with another girl who has similar strengths. Gray and Chandler pair up at the No. 1 doubles, with Case and Godbey teaming up at No. 2 and Yancey and Geier at the No. 3 slot.

 

     Boatwright knows that the state experience of Gray and Victoria will be vital to the team’s success. “It’s a different experience,” says Boatwright of playing in Mobile. “I need to get the girls prepared for a long, hard two days in a row. It’s more of a mental aspect after you have played in the hot sun and you’re sun burned, tired and thirsty. It becomes a mental game and you’ve got to want it more than the other girl.”

 

     Jacksonville knows they’ll face tough competition from Trinity, who won the state championship last year, and perennially strong St. James.

 

     They also know that they have a lot of experience on their side.

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