Sunday, June 06, 1999
Latin's Rahali overpowered in tennis final
Henderson star cruises 6-0, 6-0
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Experience and strength pounded youth and finesse in Saturday's girls state tennis singles finals.
Henderson County sophomore Ashley Robards defended her title against Covington Latin sophomore Miriam Rahali with a 6-0, 6-0 win at the University of Kentucky's Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.
After Rahali spent about 40 minutes mostly watching Ro bards' shots whiz by her, she said the match was a lesson.
“I was just happy to be here,” Rahali said. “I learned I need a lot more practice and need to be more aggressive.”
Robards said winning last year was a little nicer because it was her first title, but championship No.2 had one benefit.
“It was easier,” she said.
Robards figured out Rahali from the first game by doing the one thing Rahali's first four opponents didn't: taking Rahali's lobs or short balls on the rise for winners in the corners, or forcing her into weak groundstrokes.
“I didn't think a lot of people did that,” Rahali said. “It's stuff to learn from. I have to work on my volleys and taking (volleys) on the rise.”
Everything else Robards did worked, too. Rahali forced a game to deuce only twice.
“I've never seen (Rahali) before,” Robards said. “Everybody told me she moonballed. She hit the ball flatter.”
Rahali knocked off Notre Dame junior Lyndsey Molony 6-1, 6-4 in Saturday morning's semifinals, Rahali's second win over Molony in 16 days. She did what she had planned: hit shots to the deep corners and make Molony hit winners on the run.
In the first set, both Rahali and Molony struggled. Rahali lost her serve once and Molony twice. Rahali recovered to break Molony twice more.
Molony took her only lead in the match by breaking Rahali's serve to go 3-2 in the second set. Rahali rebounded with a service break in the next game and another to close out the match.
“I started off slow,” Molony said. “Toward the end, I started to make shots. Basically, I just missed; I wasn't patient enough.”
Notre Dame dropped from a chance for the team title to third place behind Paducah Lone Oak and Henderson County. Lone Oak finished with 13 points, Robards' title gave Henderson County 11, and Notre Dame had 10.
Saturday was also the final tournament for Notre Dame seniors Lindsay and Jessica Dressman, Sara Lange, Rachel Summe and Jessica Kirkpatrick.
“That senior class is responsible for two state championships (1997-98) and a second place in 1996,” Notre Dame coach Rob Hardin said. “That's not a bad four years.”
Rahali, Molony, Lindsay Dressman and Kirkpatrick made the all-state girls team.
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