Published: April 23, 2008 02:25 pm      

Tennis teams serve up early net success

The Rowan County Senior High School tennis teams are serving up fierce competition on the local courts so far this spring.

The Lady Vikings currently hold a 19-7 record, while the Viking men stand at 13 victories and 27 losses. Tammy Collins coaches the local girls’ team and Mark Kidd calls the shots for the boys’ squad.

The 2008 Lady Vikings players are: Jenna Kiser, Tylar Setser, Racheal McClain, Nikki Stevens, Lindsey Ginter, Hannah Templeman, Stephanie Parker, Deandra Robinson, Chelsea Allen, Emily Caskey, Emily Gross, Mica Davis, Laura King, Allie Caudill, Stevee Townsend, Victoria Northcutt, Amy Allen, Sara Bradley, Erin Rummage, Kayla Keeton, Casey James, Rachel Craft, Eleanor Wade, Kelly Hopkins and Kimmie Conn.

Players for the Vikings include: Nathan Ratcliff, Jack Eklund, Derek Daniel, Adam Roe, Charles Kiser, Seth Mynhier, Tyler Wallace, Amir Ahmadi, Brandon Brock, Will Grey, Bradley Kim and Bryce Kidd.

This season’s competition began April 7 at the Morehead State University Courts against Bath County. Lady Vikings, James, Davis, and Rummage all took 8-love victories, while Templeman overtook Bath County’s Randi Shrout 8-1.

Doubles team members Rummage and Keeton, as well as Davis and Templeman celebrated twin 8-love victories.

Vikings Mynhier, Brock, Ahamidi, Daniels, and Gray took home victories over Bath County while Kidd lost 3-8 to Bath’s Bryan Barber.

Mynhier and Ahamidi teamed up for an 8-3 win. Daniels and Gray also took an 8-1 victory.

“We have a pretty inexperienced team this year but the boys are getting better,” Coach Kidd said. “The boys work hard and really have an interest in the game -- they practice very hard and are always wanting to play.”

Coach Collins is putting a more experienced team on the courts.

“We have several girls back this year and we have already had some very good results,” she said. “But I certainly expect more good things -- they do work hard.”

Rowan women hosted Rose Hill April 8. James, Templeman, and Keeton destroyed the competition while Wade, Davis, and Rummage were defeated. The doubles team of Bradley and Northcutt took the court for an 8-2 victory. Teams Davis/Templeman and Keeton/ Rummage were upset in a 5-8 loss.

The Rose Hill men’s team came to town April 10 and swept the locals. The Vikings suffered seven singles match losses and all three doubles team upsets.

Both teams dominated at Greenup County last Tuesday.

Lady Vikings James, Davis, Rummage, Templeman and Keeton took home victories while Wade suffered a solitary loss in the singles competitions. Doubles teams Bradley/Northcutt and Townsend/Allen took 6-love victories while Templeman/Davis won 8-2. Rummage and Keeton took a 0-6 loss.

Viking netters Wallace and Daniel took twin 8-love victories while Mynhier narrowly defeated Greenup’s Colton Bentley 8-6.Doubles team Wallace and Brock won 8-3.

Magoffin and East Carter took on both Viking teams at home April 18.

Lady Viking Keeton took the only victory in the singles competition against Magoffin girls. James, Wade and Northcutt all had 8-love victories over East Carter.

In doubles competition, Allen and Townsend took an 8-love victory over Magoffin. Teams Davis/ Templeman and Rummage/ Keeton were defeated by East Carter girls.

Magoffin County boys swept the singles and doubles competitions. Doubles teams Brock/ Mynhier and Daniels/ Gray were also defeated by East Carter.

The Vikings and Lady Vikings will travel to the Ashland Tennis Center Tuesday to battle Boyd County at 5 p.m. Bath and Lewis Counties come to Morehead Wednesday to take on the Vikings at the MSU tennis courts at 4:30 p.m.

Rowan County will Host Ashland at 5:30 Thursday.

The Vikings will break for the weekend before hosting the EKC Tennis Tournament next week, April 29-May 1.