Sometimes, a slump is not exactly a slump. Kevin King's recent return to Georgia Tech's men's tennis team, combined with an overall return to health for coach Kenny Thorne's squad, may serve as an example.
Before the No. 29-ranked Yellow Jackets beat Georgia State 7-0 last weekend, they had lost three of four matches after opening the spring season with seven consecutive victories. If you didn’t know better, you might consider that a skid.
But Tech lost to Florida and Georgia, both of them then-top 10 teams. Then after beating Auburn, the Jackets lost to No. 19 Florida State. All three losing matches were on the road and King missed the matches against Florida and Georgia.
His was decisive in a 4-3 victory against No. 21 Auburn.
King is 3-0 after missing the entire fall season and Tech's first eight matches this spring with a severe case of tendinitis behind his left (hitting) shoulder. Were he completely healthy, the sophomore from Peachtree City likely would have played at No. 2 singles behind junior Guillermo Gomez, who currently is ranked No. 5 in the nation.
King underwent a relatively new medical procedure in November to treat an over-developed tendon and will play Sunday (1 p.m.) against North Carolina-Wilmington. Gomez, who has missed some action with a recurring ankle sprain, also is expected to play for the No. 29-ranked Jackets (8-3).
“We still haven’t had our full lineup this season,” Thorne said. “[King] was one of our top players, can play high in the lineup. That pushes everybody else down and gives us an opportunity to have that much more depth. We’re finally coming around to physically being where we need to be."
Softball
The Jackets this weekend are the host team at the Buzz Classic at the Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Woodstock, where there are multiple fields to accommodate the 17 teams participating. Junior Kristen Adkins and senior Kelly Eppinger have helped organize "Runs For Relief," which is designed to raise funds for earthquake victims in Haiti. ... Senior second baseman Jen Yee has been named ACC player of the week for each of the first three weeks and is the current Louisville Slugger/NFCA national player of the week. She hit six home runs last week, batted .545 with 14 RBIs and has hit safely in all 15 games this season.
Track and field
In winning the ACC triple jump title with an effort of 53 feet, 4 3/4 inches, Alphonso Jordan set a Tech indoor record and qualified for the NCAA indoor championships. Several teammates, including ACC three-time shot put champion Steve Marcelle (61-11), have recorded "provisional" or wildcard qualifying times, throws or jumps. Aiming at securing spots in the NCAAs, several Jackets this weekend will compete at a "Last Chance Meet" at Virginia Tech. That group includes ACC pole vault champion Joanna Wright (school record 13-9 3/4), Jenae Anderson (60 meters, 200), Tiffany Grant (400) and Jhanelle McLeod (triple jump). Antonio McKay Jr. (400) and Jordan (60 hurdles, long jump) have provisional qualifiers.
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