Stacking the doubles tandems put the Decatur girls tennis team back to the top of the SPSL 4A Central title chase with cross-district rival Thomas Jefferson, but not without a struggle and some doubts. against its opponents and the, at times, stormlike winds that billowed the nets.

On Monday, May 3, the home Gators reversed an earlier loss to the Raider 3-2 to send Decatur to 7-1 and TJ to 8-1. If Jefferson wins its final match and Decatur wins its closing two, there would be a co-championship.

"All the players were hitting too hard," noted Decatur coach John Cassens. "Players had to make adjustments in the ultimate wind."

Cassens paired his normal No. 1 singles player Sara Lin with Salena Shugarts in No. 2 doubles to try for a sweep in the trio of doubles encounters. Meghan Cassens would team up with Jessica Kim as Chanel Carlson moved to No. 1 singles. Results of the first four matches produced a close encounter of the tough kind at the end.

Locked in a 2-2 tie, the fate of each team on this day depended upon the results of the No. 2 doubles challenge.

Adjusting on the move in the face of or in front of the wicked wind, Lin and Shugarts faced Vanessa Sariego and Krista Nakamura. Serving was tricky, especially on the toss, and getting the serve in was a true accomplishment.
Back and forth rode the momentum until the Gators took the first set, 6-4. As the blowing wind gained strength, the squads fought more fiercely while exchanging service breaks to reach 6-5 Decatur. The Gators rallied to hold serve and close out the match while also securing their overall triumph.

"We tried to get our serves in and not double fault," agreed the Gator duo. "It was important to avoid the other team's volleyer."

Despite her misgivings about the wind, senior Averi Kitsch started Jefferson on top with a 6-0, 6-3, No. 1 singles victory against Chanel Carlson.

"I was really pessimistic about the wind," said Kitsch. "I hate the wind, but I picked up more consistency."

Meghan Cassens and Jessica Kim teamed up to defeat the rugged TJ duo of Mackenzie Qualls and Caroline MIn, 6-0, 4-3 retired for the Gators' first win.

No. 2 TJ singles player Breanna Ziccarelli remained unbeaten by stroking past Alyssa Hanson, 6-1, 6-3 to edge the Raiders ahead in matches won, 2-1.

Decatur squared the match ups with Jen Kanesta and Christina Sessoms outlasting Charlene Hamasaki and Mari Hamashima, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 3 doubles.

"Paying attention to which way the wind was blowing and watching the volleys more were the keys for us," explained Sessoms.

"We had to know they were beatable," chimed in Kanesta.

In the face of the loss, Jefferson coach Andrew Buchan gave the Gators full credit while still knowing Jefferson could win its final match and have no worse than a co-title.

"Give them all the credit," he declared. "We won the first time and the pressure was on them. It was good for them that they saw the pressure and played through it. This is still great, because we were 8-8 last year."