Khmylev takes second at state tennis meet
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Olga Khmylev's first year playing high school tennis almost ended in perfect fashion.

The Williamsville East junior defeated Diana Lorentz from Section I North Rockland, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6, in the consolation match of the New York State Championships on Monday at the Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius, N.Y.

Khmylev had lost 3-6, 0-6 to Shinann Featherston of St. Francis Prep, in the semifinals, but took second because Featherston, who went on to win the tournament, is from a Catholic school.

"This year is a stepping stone," said Khmylev. "Next year, I will hopefully come out on top."

Khmylev said she had never faced Featherston before but knew she was a great player. Featherston is ranked No. 1 in the Eastern Region and fifth nationally in the 18s division.

"It seemed like every shot I hit, she hit better," said Khmylev. "The points I did win, it took me three or four great shots, where she had a few good shots to get a winner."

"Her backhand was her big shot," she continued. "I should have done things differently. I don't know if it would have dramatically changed the score."

Khmylev beat Christina Douglas (Manlius Pebble Hill), 6-0, 6-0; Elizabeth Stachtiaris (Kellenberg Memorial) 6-1, 7-5; and Nelo Phiri (Tuckahoe) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, in the first three rounds. Khmylev felt she played some of the best tennis of her life against Phiri.

Khmylev will compete in a national open girls 16 tournament at the University of Michigan.

Williamsville North's Tina Miller lost her first round match, 2-6, 3-6, to Amanda Halstrom (Belmore JFK). In the consolation bracket, she beat Alex Goodman (Emma Willard), 8-4, and Danielle Kashou (Binghamton), 8-5, before falling to formerWilliamsville resident Julia Loomis (Niskayuna), 2-8, in the quarterfinals.

East also excelled in doubles. Monica Vieth and Miranda Podlas beat Ashley Britner and Holly Wright (Roslyn), 6-1, 6-1, and Lyndsay Smith and Stefanie Comings (Pittsford), 6-0, 6-0, before falling 3-6, 1-6, to Jennifer Kellner and Catherine Hanson (Hauppauge) in the quarterfinals. Vieth and Podlas beat Ali Greenberg and Jenn Frangella (II-Bethlehem), 6-1, 6-1, to take home fifth place.

East's other doubles entrant, Justine Rusk and Emma Manuel, lost 2-6, 4-6, to Emily Magee and Erica Fitzgerald (Queensbury) in the first round.

In the consolation bracket, they got a first round bye, beat Danielle Walsh-Marysa Walsh (St. John the Baptist), 9-7, and lost to Jackie Simmermacher and Allison Gertzog, 2-8, in the semifinals.