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Wood optimistic about Lady Mustangs future
5.13 sehs tennis

Blessed Trinity ended South Effingham’s season in the Class AAA girls state tennis semifinals Saturday, but coach Christi Wood said her team will be better for the experience.

“I think it’s going to be a real benefit,” she said of her team’s first appearance in the final four. “They are going to get a lot out of it. It was a positive experience. It was exciting. They had a good time, and they saw some good tennis.”

The Lady Titans, the defending state champs, blanked the Lady Mustangs 3-0. Top singles seed Elizabeth Sims beat Jessie Kessler 6-0, 6-0, Loren Ramsey knocked off Courtney Edenfield 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3 singles and the top doubles team of Brooke Pridemore and Clare Morgan beat Cassie Hiatt and Katherine Perrin 6-2, 6-1.

Blessed Trinity was leading the other two matches when the match was called.

Blessed Trinity, out of Roswell, fell to fellow Fulton County school Riverwood 3-2 in the finals.

“I knew the Atlanta schools were going to be strong,” Wood said. “We talked about what we had to do to get to that level. We have to play more in the offseason. We have to get in better physical condition. But more than anything, we have to play more and we have to play in more tournaments. They had to see it and their parents had to see it, to reach that level. They got to see it first hand.”

The Lady Mustangs’ first semifinals appearance also likely will be their last — South Effingham is moving up to Class AAAA next year, and Wood expects the competition to be even tougher.

“They’re going to have to step up their game from the start, and that’s going to be an asset,” she said.

South Effingham has only one senior on this year’s team — Hiatt — so Wood’s spirits are high for 2009.

“I’m optimistic,” she said.