Elizabeth Sauerborn, South Aiken's No. 1 singles player, concentrates on return to Irmo's Fallon Koon during Monday's match in Aiken. RON COCKERILLE/STAFF

South Aiken holds off Irmo in tennis

Web posted October 6, 1998

By Jimmy DeButts
Staff Writer

AIKEN -- South Aiken breezed through all five of its first sets against Region 3-AAAA rival Irmo on Monday, then had to withstand a swarming Yellow Jackets comeback to win 5-0 at the H. Odell Weeks Tennis Center.

South Aiken (9-0) completed the season sweep of Irmo (5-2) the same way it started it. The Lady Thoroughbreds were forced into three tie-breakers Sept. 9 at Irmo, which they won. Monday, each singles player faced a tie-break and came out with a victory.

Seniors Erika Eles and Meredith Dukes are 9-2 against Irmo since their freshmen seasons. One loss came in the upper state semifinals in 1995. Eles was sick that day but avenged that defeat by winning the final match of the day on Monday.

Eles defeated Erin Looney 6-2, 7-5 in No. 3 singles and clinched the match for the Lady Thoroughbreds.

``I was thinking I didn't want to be the only one to lose,'' Eles said. ``I just had to turn it up.''

Dukes, who defeated Annie Eckstrom 6-0, 7-5, was feeling ill Monday, wasn't expecting to blow out Irmo. The Lady Thoroughbreds' No. 4 singles player knew the Yellow Jackets weren't finished after the first sets were completed.

``It was close, they always stay in it until the end,'' Dukes said. ``(If it was easy) I think what happened in 1995 would've happened again. After we beat them in region we went downhill. It's good that it was tough so our heads won't get too big.''

First year coach Donna Jones said she was more nervous this time than when South Aiken traveled to Irmo earlier this season. She said her team was nervous and eased up some after the first sets.

``Whey you win that first set, you tend to have a little mental letdown,'' Jones said. ``Against Irmo you can't afford to letdown, they're very, very tough.''

North Augusta travels to H. Odell Weeks tennis center to face South Aiken on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

South Aiken 5, Irmo 0

Singles: Elizabeth Sauerborn def. Fallon Koon 6-0, 7-5; Allison Lee def. Lauren Stephens 6-4, 3-6, 8-6; Erika Eles def. Erin Looney 6-2, 7-5; Meredith Dukes def. Annie Eckstrom 6-0, 7-5; Audrey George def. Morgan Gourdine 6-1, 2-6, 8-6.

Jimmy DeButts is a staff writer for The Augusta Chronicle. He can be reached at 706-724-0851.