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Net result is a North win Photo by Drew Fleming/Mail Tribune North Medford singles player Tabitha Grytness returns a shot during her match Tuesday against Klamath. Black Tornado nabs its 40th win in a row in dual matches By KRIS HENRY North Medford's 40th consecutive dual-meet victory in girls tennis couldn't have come in a more fitting manner Tuesday afternoon at District Courts. Even with all-star singles player Jenny Brown back in the fold, the unsung heroes of the Tornado tennis team earned the most noteworthy wins as North swept Klamath Union, 9-0, to remain undefeated since a loss to Ashland in April of 1998. North went about this win as it has in many over the past three years - with a shuffled lineup. Despite the revolving state, expectations have remained high on a team that has won the past three district titles. A prime example of North's versatility can be found in senior Tabitha Grytness, who earned the Tornado's first victory Tuesday with a 6-0, 6-0 spanking of Andrea Pinkston at No. 2 singles. After spending the better part of the past two seasons going undefeated at No. 3 or 4 singles, Grytness had been playing up this season in the No. 1 spot until Tuesday due to the absence of Brown. "If one of us can't make it, then we know we can count on another girl to take up that spot and do just as good or maybe even better in her place," Grytness said of North's team approach. "There is some pressure (to win) but not as much as other teams have. If one of us can't get it done, then someone else is always there to make up for it." Stepping up Tuesday to help clinch the 40th straight win were freshmen Valerie Iverson and Kelsey Thornton, who held off the team of Melissa Ruhl and Lilee Chan, 6-2, 7-5, for the fifth win of the day. Putting icing on the cake - there was one on hand to celebrate win No. 40 - was the doubles team of Shannon Leever and April Louie. With Annie Chaney unavailable due to a prior commitment and her partner, Leslie Schultz, sitting out to free up a singles slot, the Leever-Louie combo moved up from No. 2 to No. 1 doubles and secured a shutout with the last win of the day. "This group that has come through this year has just been phenomenal," said North coach Dale Jensen. "Talentwise, this is probably the best team we've ever had. What I'm really impressed with is the young freshmen. I can really see that we're going to be good for another few years." That statement doesn't bode well for the rest of the SOC, which may not appreciate a "No. 80" cake down the road but certainly should respect a program able to string together as many wins as North has over the past three seasons. Jensen said the recipe for North's run has been simple. "Whenever you have a record that involves continuous wins, you have to have depth," he said. "I've got girls who go on band trips or go here or there, and you have to be flexible and let it ride." Making it easier is the fact that most of North's players come through the local tennis club programs. "I credit all of it to the great club programs we have at Southern Oregon Tennis Club and Rogue Valley Swim & Tennis," said Jensen. "They've been super-supportive and have given us some great kids." Jensen said teaching professionals like Frank Inn at Southern Oregon Tennis Club and Cary Collins at Rogue Valley Swim & Tennis have paved the road for his team's success. "When you have all these girls that come through the club program and play tournaments all the time, you can always rely on them," said Jensen. "You always know that you can put them in singles and win, and that's a luxury for a coach. It allows you to move everyone else around and give people experience at singles and at doubles." That's not to say Jensen's handiwork doesn't play a key role in the Tornado's success. "Dale is awesome," said Brown, who splits her time between national tournaments and the high school schedule. "That makes all this even better. He just loves the kids and it shows. That makes it really fun." Of course, winning is always fun - regardless of how many consecutive times it may happen. NORTH MEDFORD 9, KLAMATH UNION 0 SINGLES - Jenny Brown, NM, d. Kristina Bott, 6-0, 6-0; Tabitha Grytness, NM, d. Andrea Pinkston, 6-0, 6-0; Kendra Ira, NM, d. Amanda Amstutz, 6-2, 6-1; Lori Brown, NM, d. Jocelyn Milsap, 6-4, 6-0; Vanessa Barrus, NM, d. Jenny Lund, 6-1, 6-1. DOUBLES - Shannon Leever-April Louie, NM, d. Stephanie Ruhl-Jill Leonard, 6-4, 6-0; Rebekah Murphy-Andrea Pratt, NM, d. Carrie Rappe-Kristina Bott, 6-2, 6-3; Melissa Witten-Beth Alston, NM, d. Beth Hancock-Jenny Lund, 6-2, 6-1; Valerie Iverson-Kelsey Thornton, NM, d. Melissa Ruhl-Lilee Chan, 6-2, 7-5. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.