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SOC tennis: Expect quite a racket Photo by Bob Pennell Freshman Jenny Brown of North Medford, above, is seeded second behind anohter freshman, KU's Allison Wilson. Another top-flight girls rivalry unfolds At a glance GIRLS Where : Singles at Bear Creek Park, doubles at North Medford High and consolation bracket at Fichtner-Mainwaring. When : Today, 9 a.m. Top 4 singles seeds : 1, Allison Wilson, Klamath Union; 2, Jenny Brown, North Medford; 3, Leslie Schultz, North Medford; 4, Elisa Tryon, Roseburg. Top 4 doubles seeds : 1, Amanda Wilson-Dana Buchanan, Klamath Union; 2, Christie Brawner-Ali Mostue, North Medford; 3, Christina Pierce-Stephanie Dickerson, Grants Pass; 4, Mandi Sickler-Tara Bussen, Roseburg. State tournament : May 20-22, Mt. Hood Community College and Tualatin Hills Tennis Center. BOYS Where : In Ashland, singles at Southern Oregon University, doubles at Hunter Park. When : Today, 9 a.m. Top 4 singles seeds : 1, Scott Schnugg, North Medford; 2, Deryk Inn, North Medford; 3, Noah Lichtenstein, Crater; 4, Zack Matthews, South Medford. Top 4 doubles seeds : 1, Chris Endrikat-Jon Endrikat, North Medford; 2, Todd Lindbloom-Ty Garrison, Roseburg; 3, Joe Gonzales-Ryan Felker, Roseburg; 4, Dru Philips-Josh Rapp, North Medford. State tournament : May 20-22, Tualatin Hills Tennis Center. In case of rain : The district tournaments will be at Rogue Valley Swim and Tennis Club (boys) and Southern Oregon Tennis Club (girls). By KRIS HENRY With the Tami Botts-Jessyca Arthur show such a smashing success the past four years in girls tennis, one could only hope for an equally compelling sequel. Not one to disappoint, the Southern Oregon Conference has an immediate answer in freshmen Alli Wilson of Klamath Union and Jenny Brown of North Medford. Wilson and Brown enter today's district tennis tournament ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in singles. They also enter with all eyes on who will make the first move in what stands to be yet another four-year battle for SOC supremacy. "Looking at their future rivalry, I hope they are close," says KU coach Dick Ledgerwood of Wilson and Brown. "What happened with Tami and Jessyca is that they drove each other to be the best in the state. I think the same potential is there with Jenny Brown and Allison." After advancing to the state tournament as freshmen and sophomores, Botts and Arthur finally broke free for state titles as juniors and seniors. Arthur won the singles state title for KU as a junior, with Botts earning the crown for Ashland last year as a senior. Botts and Arthur met often in grueling singles matches. Brown and Wilson already have a leg up there, having faced one another in practice matches every week over a two-year stretch at the Southern Oregon Tennis Club. The main difference in the rivalry comparisons is that the Wilson-Brown matchup has been one-sided to date. "I've never beaten her before," says Brown. "We were really close last time, but she's always been a really tough match for me. I'll have my work cut out for me. I'm just going in with a positive attitude and hopefully that will pay off." Wilson and Brown hadn't met in practice in two years when they were reunited on the court April 13 in a match that lasted more than three hours. Wilson prevailed 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), with Brown taking a set from Wilson for the first time in their history. "I was very impressed with Jenny Brown's skills in that first match," says Ledgerwood. "She definitely has all aspects of the game and can play any type of shot. But that's also one of Alli's strengths. She can hit all the shots as well." North Medford coach Dale Jensen says he was equally impressed with Wilson. "You can tell that Allison Wilson feels real comfortable with her game," Jensen says. "Jenny is just starting to get more comfortable with her game. It's going to be a classic matchup with those two for the next four years." Despite owning the series advantage over Brown, Wilson says she is the one in a delicate position. "It puts a lot more pressure on me than on her," says the 14-year-old. "It is a lot of pressure, but I'm feeling confident in my game right now. I'm very excited about the district tournament, but I'm also kind of nervous. I've never played four matches in one day." Ledgerwood says he has cautioned Wilson, as well as her teammates, on how unpredictable a district tournament can be. "Anything can happen. That's why they play the matches," he says. "It was such a close match in the first one between those two. It could have gone either way." If Brown has her way, someday the outcome will be different. "(Alli's) always been a person that I've wanted to beat. I'm just waiting for my chance," says the 15-year-old. "Hopefully it will be at districts, but if not, there will be a next time." After this season, there won't be a next time in another compelling battle in girls tennis as North's senior doubles team of Christie Brawner and Ali Mostue look to finally knock off Klamath Union's Amanda Wilson and Dana Buchanan. The Pelican duo topped Brawner and Mostue in last year's district tourney, and easily won their matchup in April, 6-1, 6-4. "They wanted the match so bad that they just didn't play their best tennis," Jensen says of his tandem. "Not taking anything away from the girls at KU, but Christie and Ali could have played better. That was one of the worst matches they played this season." North stands to be the favorite for the district team title, however, thanks to its overwhelming depth. "It's going to be really tough to beat them," says Ledgerwood. "Dale has a fine team, and he has depth that goes double or even triple over mine." Leslie Schultz is seeded third in singles for the Black Tornado, with teammates Andrea Pratt and Marlie Hilmer ranked sixth and seventh, respectively. In doubles, North's tandem of Kelsey Chamberlain and Emily Folsom are seeded seventh entering the district. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.