TEAMTENNIS : Strings Net Victory Over Wellington

Led by Jimmy Connors, the Strings defeated the Wellington Aces, 29-18, before 2,377 at the Forum Thursday night.

Connors used strong serves in the men’s singles match in jumping to a 3-0 lead over Wellington’s Will Bull. Aces’ Coach Bobby Blair replaced Bull with Richard Schmidt at love-40, then Connors finished a 6-0 victory.

Wellington managed only eight points on Connors’ serve all evening. Two of those were on double faults.

The Strings opened with the women’s doubles team of Robin White and Mary Lou Daniels winning, 6-5 (5-0), over Heather Ludloff and Stacy Schefflin.

In the second set, White jumped out to a 5-2 lead over Ludloff, who was then replaced by Schefflin. White didn’t seem to notice, winning the next game for a 6-2 victory.

“They gave me the last couple of singles matches off,” White said after the match. “My legs felt real fresh, and it helped me move on the court.”

The doubles team of Connors and String Coach John Lloyd had trouble lobbing over the tall team of Schmidt and Bull, losing 6-5 (5-2).

The team of Lloyd and Connors were ranked eighth by the TeamTennis computer going into the match. Schmidt and Bull were ranked third.

In the final set of the night, the mixed doubles team of Lloyd and White defeated Schmidt and Ludloff 6-5 (5-1).

With the victory, the Strings improved to 6-3, second place in the Western Division. The Aces fell to 3-5, third in the Eastern Division to Atlanta and Raleigh.