Indians move on in regionals

By Cody Clifton / Correspondent
Published: May 19, 2008

FORT DEFIANCE—Fort Defiance pulled ahead in the early matches and was able to hold on late in doubles to pick up a 5-4 win over Lord Botetourt in regional quarterfinal action Monday afternoon.
Kayla Pleskonko gave the Indians the early lead after a sweeping 6-0, 6-0 win over Jennifer Brogan of the Cavaliers in less than thirty minutes at number five singles.
Number one singles looked as if it would be a grinder with neither player able to break serve until late when Paige Miller was able to break for the Indians and hold serve for a 7-5 first set victory. Miller cruised through the second set, putting away Cavaliers’ ace Bethany Sass, 6-0 to add another point towards the Indians’ push for the semifinals.
“We got up early leads and we didn’t close the door and they came back,” Fort coach John Edgecomb said. “We played a very good team and that’s obvious. They didn’t give up and just because you won the first set doesn’t mean they are going to pack up and go home and they fought back. It’s a testament to the Fort girls that they dug down in several cases and that was the difference.”
The longest match in singles action occurred in number six singles when Fort’s McKenze Skidmore dropped the match in two hours; 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Skidmore played well in the first set, moving Casey Gemain around the court, setting up easy put-aways.
Fort’s number three Andrea Seese used placement shots to set up her own put-aways in the first set. Seese moved her opponent, Kelly Dill around the court. Dill was able to reach most of the shots, but wasn’t able to move Seese on any of her returns until the second set. Then the rolls switched and Dill was able to move Seese and Seese couldn’t locate. A second set loss looked to be about all that Seese could handle as she dropped the third set on a final score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Going into doubles tied, neither team wanted to go home, ensuring a great hour and a half of tennis. Fort picked up the number three doubles behind the team of Michelle Converse and Laura Remis, 6-0, 6-0. Lord Botetourt picked up the number one doubles, 6-4, 6-2, locating nearly every shot with precision, making very few mistakes, allowing the Indians’ team of Miller and Seese to make the mistakes.
Once again tied, number two doubles was played to decide who would go home. After Katlyn Shiflett dropped a hard fought singles match at number two and Amanda Mackenzie won her number four singles with ease, both wanted to clinch the Fort win with their doubles match.
“During my singles match I played a really good player,” Shiflett said. “Even though I lost, it was so good to come back with my doubles partner, Amanda Mackenzie, and win the deciding game.”
The Cavalier team of Dill and Germain put up a fight, although the scores, 6-2, 6-3, might express differently. Shiflett and Mackenzie had their work cut out for them, but with a nearly impeccable service game by both players and Shiflett’s stunning net play, the two Indians made it look easy throughout the match.
“I was really excited that we could all pull through as a team and come together and finally win and go on in regionals,” Mackenzie added.
The Indians will take to the court again today, hosting Spotswood in the regional semifinals.