Vikings advance to semifinals

May 06, 2008 12:19 am

— VALDOSTA — The Lowndes Vikings boys tennis team is heading back to the GHSA state semifinals for the third time in four years after defeating Tift County 3-1 Monday afternoon at home.
“It always feels good. It’s been a memorable season,” Lowndes head coach Heath Phelps said. “We have four seniors on the team, and it’s a great way for them to go out. I’m very proud of them.”
Among the seniors are Clayton Griffin and Eli Rountree, both of whom got big wins in the quarterfinals against the Blue Devils.
Griffin won his No. 1 singles match in two straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. Rountree and Drew Parker teamed up to win the No. 1 doubles match, 7-6, 6-4.
The other winner for Lowndes was Thomas Baltrus, who won his No. 3 singles match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.
“I give Tifton a lot of credit,” Phelps said. “That’s one of the best boys teams I’ve seen from there.”
It has been another dominant year for the Vikings (19-2) and their crosstown rival, Valdosta. The only two loses on the year for Lowndes came against the Wildcats and Valdosta’s only loss came against the Vikings. Now both are heading to the semifinals; Valdosta beat Camden County 5-0 Monday.
“It’s great for our community to have both schools doing so well,” Phelps said. “It’s great for the rivalry and it shows the level of talent in the area now.”
Region 1-AAAAA has been dominant in its own right though over the past couple years. Last year, half of the teams in the quarterfinals were from the region. This year, Lowndes, Valdosta, and Tift County all represented the region in the quarters.
The Vikings won two tournaments this season en route to a state semifinal appearance. Lowndes won their own tournament, the Viking Invitational, and they won the Golden Isles Invitational on Jekyll Island.
Now they are looking to go back to the Atlanta area this weekend, but they are hoping for a different result. Lowndes has lost by a combined 10-0 in their last two final four appearances.
“It’s no surprise that metro Atlanta is a mecca for tennis,” Phelps said. “They have a big talent pool to choose from, but we want to be competitive with them.”
The Vikings will take the court again this Friday at Clayton County International Park against the winner of the Peachtree Ridge-Etowah match. The match will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Photos

Lowndes High's Patrick Chancy returns a serve from Tift County during a doubles match with partner Seth Rountree during the state quarterfinals at the LHS tennis courts Monday. The Vikings won the match, 3-1.

Seth Rountree returns the ball during a doubles match with partner Patrick Chancy during the state quarterfinals against Tift County Monday at the LHS tennis courts.

Lowndes High’s Patrick Chancy returns a serve during a doubles match with partner Seth Rountree against Tift County during the state quarterfinals at the LHS tennis courts Monday.