Four Central Region players reach Group AAA tennis semifinals

FAIRFAX -- All four Central Region players advanced to the singles semifinals of the state Group AAA boys and girls tennis tournaments. Competition was forced indoors at the Fairfax Racquet Club because of wet weather.

Central Region girls champion Emily Hahn of Douglas Freeman didn't have to play when opponent Kathleen Dawson of Ocean Lakes defaulted because of illness. Central runner-up Yasmin Fotovat swept Alex Ritter of First Colonial 6-2, 6-0.

On the boys side, three-time region champion Kyle Parker of Mills Godwin made short work of Cameron Brawley of Cox-Virginia Beach 6-0, 6-1. Region runner-up Hunter Koontz of Deep Run played the only three-set match but defeated last year's state runner-up, Ian Fraser of Cox, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Parker meets Sidarth Balaji of Fairfax in today's boys semifinals. It's a rematch of last year's quarterfinals when Balaji won in three sets. Koontz faces Justin Shane of J.E.B. Stuart.

Hahn is paired against Kiersten Pappas of Loudoun Valley in the girls semifinals. Fotovat's opponent is Faby Chaillo of George Marshall. Victories by Hahn and Chaillo would mean an all-freshman final.

In doubles, Parker and Kevin McMillen, the Central champs, whipped Brandon Larson and Greg Hawrysko of Woodbridge 6-2, 6-1. Deep Run's Koontz and Evan Charles eliminated George Gianakos and Derek Gale of E.C. Glass 6-3, 6-2.

Hahn and partner Elena Rusu advanced in doubles with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Megan Napolitano and Abby Lesnoff of Albemarle. They play Chaillo and Ana Dominguez, who ousted Ritter and Jordan McEwan 6-2, 6-1.

The Loudoun Valley doubles team of Pappas and Julianna Jacangelo eliminated Atlee's Fotovat and Shao-Ching Tu 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. -- Arthur Utley