GIRLS TENNIS: Kelly looks to add final chapter to storied history

A program with a storied past and a suspect future is experiencing a superb present.

The J.J. Kelly girls tennis squad, in what is almost certainly its final season before planned consolidation this summer, has turned back the clock with its first Group A state tournament appearance since 2000.

State tournament berths were once as ho-hum for the Kelly girls as fourth period, with the Indians advancing to the final every year in the 1990s, a run that included a state-record seven consecutive state championships between 1991 and 1997.

Kelly also won a state title in 1986 and can tie Mills Goodwin’s all-class record of nine girls team championships with two victories this weekend.

Not a bad legacy to leave behind.

“We’ve been using that a lot, telling them that this is the last J.J. Kelly team that is going to state and we hope that makes them try even harder,” said Indians coach Phyllis Wood, a former John Battle standout.

Kelly’s drive for nine begins Friday at 9 a.m. when the Indians take on Rappahannock in a semifinal matchup at Radford University. If they get past the Raiders, they’ll then face either East Rockingham or Radford in Saturday’s final.

“We really don’t know anything about them or anything,” Wood said about Rappahannock. “We’re just going to try to go up there with a positive attitude and hope [our girls] play up to their ability.”

The lone loss for Kelly (15-1) all season came against Tennessee High during a match where the Indians were missing half of their regular top six. The Indians otherwise cruised, upending defending state champion Gate City 5-2 in the Region D semifinals and sweeping Coeburn in the regional final to move just one victory away from a state-record 13^th state final appearance.

“It didn’t come as a surprise,” Wood said regarding her team’s stellar season. “We felt like that they would do something this year.”

The Indians are led at the top of the ladder by junior Hannah Barnette, who just missed making the state singles tournament as well with a tough three-set loss to Gate City’s Taylor Evans, the only opponent to defeat Barnette all season.

Kaitlin Ponish, another junior, plays No. 2 singles for the Indians and teams up with Barnette in doubles, while Claire Rigg (senior), Lizzie Hildebrand (sophomore), Hannah Collins (freshman) and Lindsey Ritchie (junior) round out Kelly’s lineup.

“We feel like we’re really pretty solid all the way down the line,” Wood said. “I feel like that’s our strength.”

Although Kelly was once a fixture in the state tournament, Friday’s match will be the first on the big stage for this year’s bunch.

Assistant coach Danny Wood said managing the pressure will be key.

“We just hope their nerves don’t get the best of them,” he said. “Their tennis game is ready – we just hope their mental game is ready. … We hope to go and have fun.”

Danny Wood added that the Indians will kick back when they’re not on the court.

“We’re going to eat good while we’re up there,” he said. “Win or lose, we’re going to celebrate at Macado’s.”

Joining Kelly in the state tournament on the boys side from Region D is Lee High, which will play in a 1 p.m. semifinal Friday.

Marc Huff will also represent the Generals in the singles and doubles tournaments, pairing up with Tyler Tindell in the latter competition.

Evans additionally will play both singles and doubles – with Callie Barber – on the girls side for Gate City. 

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