Gate City Moves On In State Tennis Tournament

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The saga of the Gate City tennis teams began Friday morning at 6 a.m. in rainy Radford.

Twelve hours and 15 matches later on the Virginia Tech campus, the Blue Devils had earned a trio of emotional victories and a chance at state championship glory.

“It’s been a long day, but it’s been fun,” said Morgan Taylor, the lone senior on the GC girls squad.

After rain forced the postponement of all activities in Radford, the spotlight shifted to the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center at Tech where dozens of fans crowded into the indoor complex. The Gate City girls faced the challenge of playing traditional power Radford at the unusual starting time of 8 a.m.

“We had to have our lights by 10 Thursday night,” Taylor said. “It was tough getting up at 6, but my doubles partner (Tori Bowen) and I set the alarm on our cell phones. I was just was hoping I would wake up once I got on the court.”

Bowen and Taylor each posted straight set wins, as the Blue Devils breezed past Radford, 5-0. The roommates then capped the day with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the doubles semifinal.

Gate City (18-1) and Wilson Memorial are scheduled to play this morning at 9 in the team championship, with the doubles final following at noon.

Second-year GC coach Delonda Spivey was proud of her how players responded after she issued the instructions for the early schedule.

“They moaned and groaned a little, but these girls like discipline,” Spivey said. “Some of the girls were actually up earlier than that 6:15, but I made sure by knocking on the door of every room.

For Southwest Virginia fans, the most suspenseful moment of Friday’s marathon session came during the boys semifinal match between Gate City and Radford. The final act unfolded at No. 3 singles, with seniors Jordan Owens and Josh Egan recording a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 decision after leading 5-0 in the first set.

Egan, the lone first-year starter for GC, capped the 5-4 victory with two consecutive smashes at the net.

“It was crazy,” Egan said. “We prepared for this all year, and I wanted to pull it out for my Jordan and my team. They guys are my brothers.”

Every player in the GC lineup is a senior, except for fifth seed Evan DeBoard. Dalton Moore displayed quickness and uncanny reflexes en route to winning his No. 2 singles match by a 6-0, 6-1 margin, then J.T. McConnell (6-1, 6-3) and DeBoard (6-0, 6-0) added wins.

The pairing of top seed Chad Sheppard and DeBoard won their No. 2 doubles match in straight sets, setting up Egan and Owens for the spotlight. It was a new role for Egan, who only stayed playing tennis two years ago and served as a reserve during last year’s state title run for the Blue Devils.

“I never dreamed it would end like this, it was nothing compared to watching my teammates play,” Egan said. “It kind of scares me to death sometimes.”

Gate City coach Steve Shockley can relate. Shockley roamed the interior and exterior of the tennis complex Friday in an attempt to quell his nerves.

“I don’t know if you could have found a more even match, it’s what state tournament tennis is all about,” Shockley said. “The guys put everything they had into every point. If you are not willing to give that kind of effort, then you don’t need to be here. I wish we could have filmed this. It was tremendous.”

The Blue Devils face George Mason for the title today at noon, with Moore and McConnell vying for the doubles title at 3.  The Blue Devils are hoping to gain revenge for a tight loss to George Mason in the 2007 state semifinals.

“We remember that match,” Sheppard said.

Sheppard can relate to early wakeup calls. After graduation ceremonies Wednesday night, he did not arrive in Radford until 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night. He was then paired against defending state singles champion Malik Mubeen of Radford in the singles semifinal Thursday morning.

“We’re all running on emotion now,” Sheppard said. “I’m hoping to relax Sunday.”

Commitment is the key to both GC squads. While the GC girls lack experience, they compensated with extra work. In addition to summer tournaments and conditioning, the off-season routine includes a new Gate City-based fall league. Tennis pros Brad Pippin and Mike Norris Kingsport also help the players refine their strokes during the winter at the Ridgefields Country Club indoor tennis complex in Kingsport. The Blue Devils played a demanding schedule, featuring much larger schools such as Dobyns-Bennett, Tennessee High, Sullivan South and Volunteer.

Gate City won five Group A girls titles from 2003-2006. Taylor played on two of those championship squads, while current freshman Alex Fritz had two older sisters play for the Blue Devils.

“All our girls have been exposed to our former teams, so they’re accustomed to high expectations,” Spivey said.

Taylor, who will play tennis at Lincoln Memorial University next year, has accepted the leadership role with pride.

“I feel like all my teammates are counting on me as the only senior, so I try to give them advice and set a good example,” Taylor said.

As for her Saturday morning routine, Taylor is eager for a return to normalcy.

“I hope to sleep a little later,” Taylor said.

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