AKRON -ÊAs the tennis match between Whitko and Tippecanoe Valley came down to the third set of the final match to break a 2-all tie, the coaches jokingly compared stress-related ailments.

"I'm losing my hair," said Whitko coach Larry Schuh.

"I've got ulcers," said Tippecanoe Valley coach Jack Shambaugh.

While Whitko swept the doubles competition early to take a 2-0 lead in the team competition, Valley fought back to win the No. 1 and No. 3 singles matched to knot the at score at 2.

The fate of the match came down to the No. 3 singles match between Whitko's Brooke Workman and Valley's Linda Weller.

Weller won the first set of the match 6-4, but Workman clawed back to win the second set 7-5 to force a tiebreaking set.

Weller took the lead early in the third set, winning the first game. Weller continued to chip away, taking a 4-1 lead, but Workman was not ready to give in.

Workman fought back to make the score 4-3 and make things even more exciting for the fans - and nerve-wracking for the coaches.

Weller kicked into gear in the final two games. After a long hard-fought match, Weller came out on top 6-3 and gave her Vikings the 3-2 team win.

"It's just one of those matches," said Schuh. "Our singles have come a long way, but Valley just got some certain key points in the match. They played their way out of some difficult situations, but we are continuing to build our program."

"That was just good tennis," said Shambaugh. "Both girls played hard and that was a fun match to watch. That was good for Valley tennis, and good for TRC (Three Rivers Conference) tennis as well. Whitko is really coming on, Manchester is coming on and that is good for the conference overall. It's good to see these good competitive matches."

Valley swept the singles competition as Kelly Sanders defeated Emily Crist 6-1, 6-2 at No.1 singles and Chris Swanson defeated Tiffany Hatton 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 3 spot.

"We are banking on our singles right now, and tonight that strategy paid off," said Shambaugh. "Our doubles are still working to get experience, and as they get that experience they will get points as well."

Whitko picked up two points in the doubles portion of the match.

In the No. 1 doubles match, Whitko's Brandy Bayles and Jen Wendel joined forces against Valley's Karissa Fields and Carli Anglin. The duo of Bayles and Wendel won the match 6-3, 6-2.

The Wildcat duo of Chelsy Grant and Steph Haines paired up against Vikings Autumn Beasley and Becky Wright. Grant and Haines picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win for Whitko.

The win moves Valley's record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the TRC. A much-improved Whitko team that was just 1-13 last season is now 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

"We have the same girls that we had last year," said Schuh. "They are one year older, more experienced and 10 times better than last year."

TIPPECANOE VALLEY 3, WHITKO 2

Singles

No. 1 -ÊKelly Sanders (V) def. Emily Crist 6-1, 6-2

No. 2 -ÊLinda Weller (V) def. Brooke Workman 6-4, 5-7, 6-3

No. 3 -ÊChris Swanson (V) def. Tiffany Hatton 4-6, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

No. 1 -ÊBrandy Bayles/Jen Wendel (W) def. Karissa Fields/Carli Anglin 6-3, 6-2

No. 2 - Chelsy Grant/Steph Haines (W) def. Autumn Beasley/Becky Wright 6-1, 6-1

JV - WHITKO 3, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 2

Singles

No. 1 - Steph Boggs (W) def. Allison Rock 8-2

No. 2 - Amanda Busz (W) def. Ashley Clampit 8-0

No. 3 -ÊKaitlin Kessie (W) def. Brooke Prater 8-3

Doubles

No. 1 -ÊAndrea Kindig/Erin Smith (V) def. Kendra Craycraft 8-6

No. 2 - Krysta Kindig/Maribeth Martin (V) def. Serena Miller/Brooke Weber 8-7 (7-2) [[In-content Ad]]