Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357 (w); 804-443-2703 (h)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rogers Undefeated, Leads Tennis Team
Undefeated for St. Margaret's in singles and doubles through nine matches, senior Roz Rogers is showing the league and her teammates how it's done. Rogers, a tri-sport athlete, has already enjoyed healthy doses of athletic success by helping both her volleyball and soccer teams win League of Independent Schools (L.I.S.) regular-season and tournament championships this fall and winter, respectively. Mention to Rogers that she won't three peat this spring-not in tennis-and she'll laugh and smile back letting the statement go unanswered.
WINNERS - 1999 SMS Varsity Tennis Team* (Pictured l. to r.) Head Coach Katie Spiegler, Katherine Davant, Jeong Min Kim, Roz Rogers, Cathy Ryan, Katie Farmer, and Diana Kelley (* Nikki Verma not pictured).
"Winning the L.I.S. Conference won't be easy," says Head Coach Katie Spiegler. "There are many good teams." Spiegler, a fair tennis player herself, is not about to send her girls to the L.I.S. tournament on May 14/15 in Lynchburg unprepared; she has her team practicing half-court, baseline, overhead, volley, and serving drills each week in addition to playing sets. "If we continue to play well and go to Lynchburg believing we can win, I think we can win," adds Spiegler. "But we're not there yet."
The Scotties (6 - 2 overall; 2 - 2 L.I.S.) appear poised for their upcoming rematch this Friday, May 7 versus St. Anne's-Belfield in Tappahannock. STAB beat SMS 7 - 2 (overall team score) earlier this season (April 21) in Charlottesville. "Rain is in the forecast for Friday but a big win over STAB would really lift our confidence heading into the tournament," notes Spiegler.
To recap the Scotties impressive season to-date, on April 26, SMS edged Mathews 5 - 4. SMS claimed four out of six singles matches; singles winners were: Sophomore Cathy Ryan (8 - 6), sub-freshman Diana Kelley (8 - 4), junior Jeong Min Kim (8 - 5), and junior Katie Farmer (8 - 3). The Scotties number one doubles team, Ryan and Kelley, clinched the victory for SMS with a 9 - 7 win.
On Friday, April 23, of Spring Family Weekend, SMS claimed its second victory of the season over league opponent St. Vincent's, winning 7 - 2; singles winners were: Rogers (8 - 3), Farmer (8 - 2), Kelley (8 - 0 ), and senior Katherine Davant (8 - 3). Rogers and Farmer, following their singles victories, paired together for an 8 - 1 doubles win over Bailey and Allen of St. Vincents.
SMS defeated St. Vincent's by the same score, 7 - 2, earlier in the season (March 31) playing at St. Vincent's. Claiming a 5 - 1 singles edge, Kelley (8 - 2), Rogers (8 - 0), Farmer (8 - 1), Kim (8 - 2), and junior Nikki Verma (8 - 0) each won. Rogers/Farmer and Kim/Verma each shutout their opponents 8 - 0 in doubles.
St. Catherine's, perhaps looking toward the future, played its junior varsity squad against SMS on April 12 in Richmond; consequently, the Scotties won rather easily, 9 - 0. Ryan (8 - 0), Kelley (8 - 1), Rogers (8 - 1), Farmer (8 - 0), Kim (8 - 3), and Davant (8 - 0) swept singles; Ryan/Kelley (8 - 2), Rogers/Farmer (8 - 0), and Kim/Davant (8 - 2) swept doubles.
SMS' home match versus L.I.S. foe Steward on April 8 was better competition. The contest was a nail-biter as Steward upset the Scotties, 5 - 4. Cathy Ryan (8 - 2), Rogers (8 - 5), and Farmer (8 - 2) pulled out singles wins; Rogers/Farmer (8 - 4) claimed the Scotties lone doubles win.
Two non-league matches early in the season versus Mathews and Christchurch Episcopal School also helped tally wins for the Scotties; SMS won 5 - 4 and 8 - 1, respectively. Against Mathews, Ryan (8 - 3), Rogers (8 - 0), and Farmer (8 - 2) claimed singles victories; while Ryan/Kelley (8 -6) and Rogers/Farmer (8 - 1) won in doubles. At Christchurch, despite three close matches, SMS blew out its rival 8 - 1. Kelley (8 - 3), Rogers (8 - 0), Farmer (8 - 2), Kim (8 - 1), and Verma (8 - 1) won singles matches; Ryan/Kelley (9 - 7), Rogers/Farmer (8 - 4), and Kim/Verma (9 - 7) swept the doubles competition.
Based on their season performance thus far, is winning the L.I.S. tournament a reachable goal? Undefeated senior Roz Rogers, for one, thinks so.
Following Friday's match versus STAB, SMS will travel to Lynchburg for the L.I.S. tournament May 14/15.
