HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS: Lauzon, John Battle Reach Final Step

RADFORD, Va. — John Battle’s girls tennis team possesses the Group A singles champion in Emerald Lauzon.

The Trojans are in position to take the distinction a step further.

Battle’s routine 5-1 win over Mathews Friday at Radford University moved the Region D titleists into Saturday’s state title match at 9 a.m. against perennial power George Mason.

Sisters Jessi and Jill Williams provided the clinching point for the Trojans (11-0) with a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Lauren Hurst and Susanna Jones at No. 2 doubles, halting two other matches in which Battle led.

“I can’t describe what it would mean to win a state championship,” Jessi Williams said.

On a day where temperatures were climbing into the 90s by the time the Trojans got off the court, Battle took advantage of its superior talent and postseason experience against the Region A champs.

Having played the last four years at RU’s courts, located next door to the Dedmon Center, the senior-laden Trojans weren’t about to succumb to an attack of the bug eyes.

“We’re definitely familiar with the surroundings,” Jill Williams said. “It almost feels like home here. We just had to go out and play like we know how to play.”

It was Battle’s first Group A Tournament match since a tough 5-3 semifinal loss to five-time state champion Gate City two years ago. Five of the six players who saw court time that day played yesterday.

That includes Lauzon, who threw up a nice, neat double bagel in her singles win over Jessica Walker. Jill Williams allowed just one game to Hurst, while Carly Johnson and Jessi Williams each posted 6-2, 6-3 victories.

Although Johnson’s match required less than an hour to complete, the left-handed junior was pouring sweat after she walked off the court.

“This was a shock,” she said of the conditions. “It hasn’t been this hot all spring; I had no idea it was going to be this hot.”

First-year coach Randy Coleman, who took over for Patty Lauzon, inherited a good team and kept it that way. The players said Coleman has stressed mental toughness and strategy to help them reach the doorstep of a championship.

“We’re worked on thinking our way through a match a lot more this year,” Johnson said. “We’ve learned the fundamentals, but he’s really worked on strategy. That’s helped us a lot more with our games.”

Johnson and Lauzon capped their long, hot day with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory against George Mason’s Michelle Repper and Annie Zweighaft in the doubles semifinals.

The Trojan duo had a chance to close out the second set at serve, but dropped the last three games. However, Johnson and Lauzon came back ready to go after a 10-minute break, capturing the final five games to earn a spot in today’s noon title match.

“I think it came down to who wanted it more,” Lauzon said of the three-set doubles win. “We knew this would be our toughest match, but it was tougher than we thought it would be.”

History is at stake this morning for the Trojans. Jessi Williams is confident they’ll leave the New River Valley with a title.

“We play well as a team and we support each other,” she said. “I’d be extremely excited if we win … and I’ll be speechless.”

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Group A Girls
John Battle 5, Mathews 1
Singles
Emerald Lauzon (JB) def. Jessica Walker 6-0, 6-0; Jill Williams (JB) def. Lauren Hurst 6-0, 6-1; Carly Johnson (JB) def. Susanna Jones 6-2, 6-3, Jessi Williams (JB) def. Emily May 6-2, 6-3; Laura Sierra (M) def. Rachel Terry 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Doubles
Ji. Williams-Je. Williams (JB) def. Hurst-Jones 6-1, 6-4.
Note: No. 6 singles and No. 1 doubles halted when Battle clinched.