TENNIS Peretti-Berry third in state doubles

The Boardman High duo bounced back from a semifinal defeat to win their consolation match.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
COLUMBUS -- After losing a Division I state semifinal tennis match, Gina Peretti and Stephanie Berry of Boardman High School fought back to place third Saturday at Ohio State University's Stickney courts.
The Spartans' duo won the consolation final as it defeated Andye Kelley and Catherine Rentschler of Cincinnati Ursuline, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5.
The Ursuline girls eliminated Peretti-Berry in a first-round match at state last year.
"The toughest match to play is for the consolation, because you have to go back out there after a big loss and be motivated," said Boardman coach Jeffrey Hammerton.
The loss: The Boardman girls had lost a semifinal match Saturday to Emitter Bahnson and Sarah Lodge of Upper Arlington, 6-1, 6-4.
"You can only give them so many motivation speeches after they've been let down, but to their benefit, they went out and took care of business," said Hammerton.
"There are only two teams that leave [Columbus] with wins -- the first-place team and the one that finished third."
Hammerton said, "The girls really felt excited about getting third place even though they did want to win the state title."
Experience helps: The state experience will only help the team for next season in its quest to win the title, Hammerton said.
"I told them that they are the third-best team in Division I, and that is a great accomplishment considering the number of doubles teams there are in the state," he said.
In other matches, Lexington senior Melissa Schaub and Bay Village Bay junior Laura Maurer won singles titles.
Schaub, the top returning player from last year's Division I tournament, beat Anna Volberg of Toledo St. Ursula 6-4, 6-4 in the finals. Schaub did not lose a set during the entire tournament.
Div. II: In the Division II tournament, Maurer also won every set she played. She beat Alex Gross of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy 6-0, 6-1 in the finals.
In Division I doubles, Toledo St. Ursula juniors Angie Bhat and Kate Lohner beat Upper Arlington senior Eimaer Bahnson and sophomore Sarah Lodge 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). In Division II doubles, Worthington Christian senior Tiffany Young and junior Kathryn Whaling defeated Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy senior Jen Dektas and junior Shaden Dowiatt.