By: Dan Sousa
Sterling (May 4, 2008) – The AA Dulles District girls tennis tournament was suspended by darkness Friday with Heritage High School just one set away from upending regular-season champion Park View. The Patriots staved off three championship points in a marathon singles match to send the finals into doubles action.
The match will resume May 7 at Park View with the Pride ahead 4-3 and Heritage’s No. 1 doubles team of Meleah Nassar and Annie Replogle are up a set on Park View’s top tandem of Lisa Huynh and Thuy Nguyen. Park View, which captured the No. 3 doubles behind the play of Lindsey Kibler and Sarah Groaves, are leading at No. 2 doubles by a set with the undefeated duo of Krista McManus and Megan Brown ahead of Michelle Rudman and Minh Bui.
The Patriots forced the doubles play after Nguyen fought off three championship points against Heritage’s Beth Gurney to force a tiebreaker in their second set. Nguyen went on to win the tie breaker, 9-7, to even their match at one set each. The No. 4 singles pairing played for over three hours before Nguyen won the final set 6-2.
Heritage took four of the six singles overall with Nassar, Replogle, Rudman and Bui all bringing home victories.
Both teams will advance to the May 20 Region II tournament.
Singles results:
Meleah Nassar (H) def Lisa Huynh 6-2, 6-1
Annie Replogle (H) def Krista McManus 6-4, 6-3
Megan Brown (PV) def Marina Barraj 6-0, 6-2
Thuy Nguyen (PV) def Beth Gurney 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
Michelle Rudman (H) def Lindsey Kibler 6-3, 6-3
Minh Bui (H) def Sarah Groves 6-2, 6-2