Canfield duo comes up short

VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
COLUMBUS -- Seniors Renee Lesnett and Rachel McGowan of Canfield High had their dream of repeating as girls Division I state doubles champions stopped by sophomores Tara Majdalani and Meredith Morse of Toledo Notre Dame Academy, 6-3, 6-2, in a quarterfinal match Friday at the Stickney Tennis Center.
"It was a tough day for the girls," said Canfield coach Pat Pavlansky. "Their goal was to repeat as champions. It didn't happen, they ran into a hot team."
Lesnett and McGowan defeated Jackie Mason and Jayne Miely of Upper Arlington in a first-round match.
Pavlansky said the girls were upset that they didn't reach their goal, but that that was normal.
"The girls had a tremendous career for us here," said Pavlansky. "They were part of a team that won four straight league titles and they didn't lose a league match in their entire careers.
"Both were extremely coachable kids, fighters and worked really hard throughout their careers," said Pavlansky.
McPhillips moves into semifinals
Kristen McPhillips beat defending state champion Kelsey Haviland of Dayton Oakwood to move into the semifinals of Div. II.
McPhillips, a senior at Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, eliminated Haviland in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. She will face Gates Mill Hawken junior Giola Garden in the semifinals today.
Defending Div. I champ Neela Vaez swept two matches to get into the final four. Vaez, a senior at Notre Dame in Toledo, beat Avon Lake's Christine Chiricosta 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.