Carson girls tennis team exceeds expectations

Even though the Carson girls tennis team won't likely be heading to the Northern Nevada zone playoffs this season, it has still exceeded expectations.

The young team has gone 4-2 in the Sierra League, with its only losses coming to Reno and Douglas. Carson took a break from league action Thursday in a 14 1/2-8 win over Reed in a match it wrapped up after the second of three rounds.

Carson will finish league play Monday at Bishop Manogue and while a top two finish in the league and berth into the zone playoffs look out of reach, the Senators have met Coach Kinkade DeJoseph's goal of a top four league finish.

"I was very happy with this team this year," DeJoseph said. "We were competitive. I have a real young team. Next year we should be competitive again."

Carson will be well represented in the Northern Nevada singles and doubles championships. Polly Johnson ran her season record to 16-1 by going 2-0 against Reed and Joulianna Kourenkova swept all three of her matches to improve to 15-6 on the year.

Natalie Rogers, who went 2-0 against Reed to run her season record to 12-7, could also join Johnson and Kourenkova in the zone tournament. DeJoseph said Johnson could receive a top five seed at zone and that Kourenkova should be a force to be reckoned with.

"She's going to be someone that you'll have to contend with," said DeJoseph about Kourenkova.

In doubles, Amanda Hoff and Kristin Foley should be a top eight seed at zone. "They're a solid team," DeJoseph said. "They should do all right."

Hoff and Foley went 2-0 against Reed. Other winners in doubles for Carson were Tara Haddon and Lindsey Fonda, Ashley Walsh and Kristine Athens and Kelsey Pierce and Miranda Mahe.