By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – If you save your best for the last moment, it usually pays off in the victory column.
Niles' No. 2 doubles team (Katie Bourbonnais and Ali Landgraf) and No. 4 doubles partners (Sarah Rouse and Jessica Bartocci) exemplified that attitude on Monday night, at Niles High School, winning their matches with some tenacious comebacks against their Battle Creek Central Bearcat opponents.
Landgraf and Bourbonnais won their first test of the afternoon 6-4 with steady work in front and deep on the court. Their Bearcat opposition, Amanda Keenan and Jessica Kittleton steamed back to take a 4-1 lead in the second set.
With the score at 5-2, Landgraf and Boubonnais rallied to even up the affair 5-5. Their opponents wouldn't go quietly, taking a 6-5 lead, but the two Vikings pulled it out 7-6 in a stoic confrontation during the tie-breaker.
After Battle Creek's Jasmine Broomfield and Cheyenn Hoskin took the first set 6-3. Rouse and Bartocci sent a return message, winning the second set with a combination of lobs and deep placements that confused the Bearcats duo
Starting with a 2-1 lead, in the deciding set, Rouse and Bartocci held their own and claimed a 6-3 victory.
Following a 6-3 loss from the first set, Niles' Lena Cramer and April Lee, in No. 1 doubles, fought back furiously. They took a 3-2 lead in the second contest, came back to tie at 4-4, but they succumbed to Nikki Kline and Mary Cannon 4-6.
After losing the initial frame 3-6, Niles No. 3 doubles team Meg Hein and Lauren Girvin, made a charge, coming from a second set deficit of 0-3 to close to 3-4, but lost the match in a lengthy 4-6 loss.
In all Niles managed to win three points, due to a Battle Creek forfeit in four singles, to take three points versus the Bearcats five for the duel.
Viking tennis coach, Jill Weber, was consoled by the comeback efforts of her two and four doubles tandems.
"Number two doubles (Landgraf and Bourbonaiss) did really well," she commented. "They came back and tied 6-6. They battled back and won the tiebreaker.
"Four doubles (Rouse and Bartocci) started slow and came back well during the second and third sets," she added.
Battle Creek Central…5
Niles…3
Singles
1. Jenny Chal (BC) d. Rachel Horn (N) 6-2, 6-4; 2. Chelsea Goodell (BC) d. Sara Stenstrom (N) 6-4, 6-2; 3. Jenni Fales (BC) d. Kyra Carpenter 6-0, 6-1; 4. Niles wins by forfeit
Doubles
1. Nikki Kline-Mary Cannon (BC) d. Lena Cramer-April Lee (N) 6-3, 6-4; 2. Katie Bourbonaiss-Ali Landgraf (N) d. Amanda Keenan-Jessica Kittleton (BC) 6-4, 7-6
3. Krista Newsum/ Sharara Sloan (BC) d. Meg Hein/ Lauren Girvin (N) 6-3, 6-4
4. Sarah Rouse/ Jessica Bartocci (N) d. Jasmine Broomfield/ Cheyenn Hoskin (BC) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3