Villa Park, Nelson Cruise Past Canyon, Lin in Rematch

The sequel wasn’t nearly as entertaining as the original, but that was fine with Villa Park freshman Lindsey Nelson, who took the drama out of her rematch with Canyon freshman Tracy Lin by winning handily, 6-2. Nelson’s first-round victory over Lin sparked visiting Villa Park to an easy 13-5 upset of sixth-ranked Canyon Thursday afternoon in a Century League girls’ tennis match.

The Spartans’ lopsided victory will probably make them the league’s top-seeded team in the upcoming Southern Section Division II playoffs. The Spartans are 10-6 overall and 8-1 in league with one match left. Canyon is 16-4 and 8-1. If both teams finish 9-1, Villa Park has the edge based on total sets.

Two weeks ago, Lin’s 7-6 victory over Nelson gave Canyon a 10-8 win. That battle featured disputed line calls, spectacular shot-making and post-match trash-talking.

Thursday’s set had the makings of another thriller as Nelson and Lin split the first four games without holding serve. But Nelson ran off the next four games by hitting clean winners deep in the court and taking advantage of Lin’s unforced errors on ground strokes.

“I was more relaxed and I wasn’t as nervous,” Nelson said. “Once I held my serve to go up 3-2, I started hitting harder and going for my shots.”

Lin had hoped to face Nelson in the last round as she did the last time. Canyon Coach Will Wilkins put Lin at No. 3 singles, thinking Nelson would be at No. 1 singles. But Sherry Smith, Villa Park’s coach, predicted the move and placed Nelson at No. 3 singles. Thus, Nelson and Lin met in the first round.

Smith also made the right guess with her doubles lineup--moving singles players Arti Iyer and Laura Robinson to No. 3 doubles, where they swept three sets. The Spartans didn’t lose a doubles set.