August 22, 1999

Fremont earns hard-fought match

FREMONT &emdash; Fremont Ross dominated the singles matches and earned a hard-fought doubles match to edge Columbian 3-2 in tennis action Saturday.

Ainsley Watkins cruised past Amber Shellhammer 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and Gina Melchiori upended Michelle Maxwell 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2 singles for the Little Giants (2-0).

In double action, the No. 2 duo of Brittany Ford and Sheri Pollack battled for a 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-4 victory over Columbian's Bridget Focht and Rachel Lape.

The Tornadoes (1-1) got a win from Rutu Dalal at No. 3 singles and from the No. 1 doubles team of Stephanie Kissell and Lara Ellinger.

Dalal edged Erica Wolfe 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 while Kissell and Ellinger ran past Nicole Wolfe and Laura Papalia 6-2, 6-1.

Despite the loss, coach Susan Crumrine was pleased with the effort.

"Our team gave Fremont a real challenge," she said. "Stephanie and Lara won in swift fashion and Rutu perservered with steady control to win in three sets.

"Rachel Lape and Briget Focht played an outstanding three-set match and almost pulled it out for the (team) match."

Columbian takes on Clyde at home Tuesday.