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Complete Forecast for  Jul 20 2008

From Staff Reports

TUCSON, Ariz. — Both Tyler Junior College and Hillsborough (Fla.) had a day to forget at the NJCAA Division I Women’s Tennis National Championship.

The good news is that one of them — or both — is going to win the national title.

The Apache Ladies, vying for their first team championship since 2005, have a one-point lead over second-place Hillsborough entering today’s championship round.

TJC won only two of six semifinal matches on Wednesday at the Randolph Tennis Center, but Hillsborough failed to take advantage as it went 1-5 in singles.

“I think we had a real nightmare of a day,” said TJC head coach John Peterson. “At least (Hillsborough) got to earn theirs.”

Hillsborough advanced to one doubles final by walkover when TJC’s Iris Rendon was too dehydrated to play.

Rendon’s illness also cost her in singles when she had to default after splitting sets in Flight 5.

“I thought we had the tournament won last night and that’s my bad for thinking like that,” Peterson said. “There’s no way we lose that match at 5. We didn’t need to win that many.”

Peterson said Rendon developed stomach problems Tuesday night.

“We tried to get her to keep hydrated,” he said. “She just had no energy to play. She was dehydrated this morning and still won one set. It looked like we were going to cruise and now it’s brought the pack all pretty level.

“This is the deepest tournament I can remember in a long time.”

TJC will be playing for two flight championships today. Priscillia Villemond won a grueling three-setter over Hillsborough’s Bridgette Carrillo in Flight 2.

Villemond, who won the title at Flight 3 last year, has to go through No. 1 seed Jessica Mezo of Laredo to win back-to-back titles.

TJC freshman Sureena Weir has dominated the fourth flight but will now face No. 1 seed Eva Sambrano of Hillsborough in the final.

Peterson said the Apache Ladies are considered underdogs in both matches.

Adding to the pressure on TJC, Hillsborough is favored to win the Flight 3 doubles title with the No. 1 seeds playing unseeded Barton County (Kan.).

Singles

Flight 2

Semifinals — Priscillia Villemond (2), Tyler, def. Bridgette Carrillo (4), Hillsborough (Fla.), 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Final —

Villemond vs. Jessica Mezo (1), Laredo.

Flight 3

Semifinals —

Stephanie Rodriguez (1), Lee, def. Ashley Longoria (4), Tyler, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Flight 4

Semifinals — Sureena Weir (2), Tyler, def. Chade Scott (5), Abraham Baldwin (Ga.), 6-0, 6-1.

Final —

Weir vs. Eva Sambrano (1), Hillsborough (Fla.).

Flight 5

Semifinals —

Gina Solis (3), Collin County, def. Iris Rendon (2), Tyler, 1-6, 7-5 (retired, ill).

Doubles

Flight 2

Semifinals — Jacklyn Lahari-Cally Woerner (2), Collin County, def. Longoria-Weir (3), 6-4, 6-4.

Flight 3

Semifinals —

Eva Sambrano-Katherine Laine (1), Hillsborough (Fla.), def. Rendon-Kelly Rittenhouse (3), walkover.