Consistency the strength for PHS boys tennis team
Parkersburg’s Truman Roberts serves the ball during a high school tennis match against Williamstown earlier this season at City Park. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
The Parkersburg boys tennis team celebrates after capturing the regional tennis championship last week at City Park. (Photo Provided)
Parkersburg’s Truman Roberts serves the ball during a high school tennis match against Williamstown earlier this season at City Park. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
The Parkersburg boys tennis team celebrates after capturing the regional tennis championship last week at City Park. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- Gut check time for the Parkersburg tennis program.
Big Red coach Eric Stanley received an eye-opener earlier this week when the pairings were released for Thursday and Friday's Class AAA state tournament in Charleston.
With a resume that included a pair of wins over defending state champion Hurricane, PHS received the No. 3 seed behind top-seeded George Washington and No. 2 seeded Hurricane.
Should PHS hold serve and defeat No. 6 Washington in the quarterfinals in an 8 a.m. start time on Thursday, odds are Hurricane is next on the list later that afternoon.
"When I first looked at the pairings, I was confused that PHS wasn't No. 2," Stanley said. "The coaches from George Washington and Hurricane and myself are all cordial with each other - the coach from Hurricane and I figured us two would be on opposites of the bracket. We both feel very strongly that Hurricane and PHS are the two best teams in the state. Our region has the largest population of the best tennis players in the state. Now we have to face off in the semifinals if we are to make it to the state championship.
"We will do the same thing we have done all year. Our strength is consistency and depth."
Critical to their success is the outcome of the three doubles matches. Coach Stanley always strives for at least two wins before singles take the court.
"Knowing that some of our players liker Cale Stutler, Isaac Stephens and Truman Roberts anchor this team, and their consistent play at No. 3 doubles and No. 4 singles, you know what you are going to get from those guys day in and day out."
On the girls side, PHS has its work cut out as the No. 6 seed in the field of eight. The Big Reds have faced the top three teams in the field (Huntington, Morgantown and George Wasgington) during the season but are yet to post a win.
PHS' upset win over Cabell Midland in the regional semifinals with two come-from-behind wins from Emma Stanley and Emmalee Pritchett that boiled down to tiebreakers could cdreate additional season-defining wins throughout the lineup.
"Ella Grace Haddox is now in her third year with me as coach - she has played in the state tournament," coach Stanley said. "I look for her as a leader and provide a boost at that No. 3 doubles spot.
"Going back to that Cabell Midland match last week, the girls fought and played hard. They didn't quit and didn't give up. We could have the same situation. They are young, but driven."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com