Gardiner, Gordon getting games going

By Tommy Keeler Jr. -- tkeeler@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Elizabeth Gardiner and Katie Gordon have only been playing together for a few weeks, but it hasn't taken them long to hit their stride.

The Handley pair moved a step closer to a state berth on Tuesday with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Western Albemarle's Maddie Wilson and Sarah Nugent in the Region II individual doubles quarterfinals held at Stonebrook Racquet and Fitness Club. The regional matches, which were originally scheduled to be played at Millbrook, were moved indoors due to rain.

James Wood's Kari Pope was also in action Tuesday, but fell 6-4, 6-4 in the singles quarterfinals.

"I think we're very comfortable playing together," Gardiner said.

"We know each other's strengths and weaknesses," Gordon added.

The two didn't play together as part of Handley's team, but before the Northwestern District individual tournament began, Handley coach Terry Ewell decided to pair them up.

"They have the potential to be a very, very good doubles team," Ewell said. "They just need to have the confidence in themselves that they can do it. They compliment each other's games very well."

Early on Tuesday, it appeared the Handley pair was going to have cruise through to the semifinals. They built a quick 4-1 lead, but Wilson and Nugent fought back to even the opening set at 4-4. The teams traded service holds and Gordon closed out the 11th game with a backhand volley winner to take a 6-5 lead.

The duo put the set away on a forehand volley winner from Gordon in the next game.

"We started off well and then we just kind of fell apart," Gordon said. "Then were able to pull it back together at the end."

In the second set, the two teams held service most of the way until Handley pulled out the match in the 12th game. The Handley pair built a 40-0 lead on Nugent's serve and finished it off two points later when a Western Albemarle error ended the one-hour and 21-minute match. While Gardiner and Gordon had trouble breaking serve at times, they both had strong service games to pull them through the match.

"I think it was kind an off-day for us, but our serves definitely helped us out," Gardiner said. "I think we both served really well and that was a big key for us."

Pope also had a strong serving day in her match, but it wasn't enough against Monticello's Lizzie Gaffney. Pope didn't lose a point on serve in her first three service games as her lefty serve gave Gaffney all kinds of problems.

Serving down 5-4, Pope finally ran into trouble. She saved two set points, but an error on the third set point gave Gaffney a one-set lead.

"I felt like if I could have just got a couple breaks and got some momentum it would have made a big difference," Pope said. "She's just one of those girls that gets every ball back and she hits the ball so high in the air. I don't like playing those types of players."

Pope went up a break early in the second set and led 3-1, but Gaffney rallied to tie it at 3-3. Trailing 5-4, three Pope errors gave Gaffney a match point and the James Wood senior double-faulted for the first time in the match.

Pope will play for Army next year. She said she's looking forward to playing there, and begins practicing with the team next month.

"I'm really excited to be going there and getting to play tennis there," Pope said. "I've met all the girls on the team and they're really nice. I'm looking forward to playing with them."

Pope will play with teammate Headley Wilson today in the doubles semifinals. Pope and Wilson are the defending Group AA state champions and have won 25 straight matches.

They could meet Gardiner and Gordon in the finals today in a rematch of the district tournament final. Pope and Wlson won that match, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4, but the Handley pair gained a lot of confidence in the match.

"I think we played one of our best matches," Gardiner said of the district final. "Hopefully it won't be our last best match. If we get to play them it will definitely be very exciting."