Prep tennis | Out-of-Door sweeps team district titles

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- The Out-of-Door Academy boys and girls take different paths to success. The boys are deep, capable of winning any of the five singles matches or either doubles bout. The girls are led by one of the best players in the state and a top of the lineup which can give Out-of-Door an early edge in most matches.

Depth gave the Thunder a rout Wednesday. ODA's stars completed a sweep Thursday. The Thunder claimed both Class 1A-District 9 titles at The Out-of-Door Academy Tennis Center, edging St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep on the boys side 17-9 and Saint Stephen's on the girls side 14-12.

"We've played really well this year," ODA head coach Kieran Killigrew said, "and it showed here in the finals, so I'm pleased with them."

The Thunder boys took advantage of a shallow field to clinch the district title on the first day of the tournament. The event concluded Thursday at Out-of-Door Academy and the Thunder showcased its strength. Connor Krug, Matt Jones and Vaughn Garcia -- ODA's Nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively -- all secured individual titles and Krug teamed up with his twin brother Jake Krug to win at No. 2 dou

bles. The Thunder reached the finals in all five singles events.

Shorecrest Prep's Peter Litsky won the individual district title at No. 1 singles to clinch a berth in the Class 1A tournament. The Chargers also won No. 1 doubles.

"That's really what set us apart this year, was the depth of our team," Killigrew said. "We have very strong (Nos.) 1 and 2 players, but our depth is our strength."

ODA also led the field with three individual girls champions. Out-of-Door's dominance here came at the top of the lineup.

M'Balia Bangoura, a Nebraska signee and defending state champion, sealed her return to the Class 1A tournament with a win at No. 1 singles, and teamed up with Sydney Sforzo to win at No. 1 double and seal a trip to Casselberry and Sanford.

Sforzo also won an individual title at No. 2 singles.

The Falcons checked in with a pair of individual titles to finish second and advance to the Class 1A-Region 5 semifinals Tuesday. Junior Mpho Cho won a title at No. 3 singles and seventh-grader Allie Serterides won at No. 4.

"Everything has to kind of fall in line, and our draws fell in line and the girls played fantastic," SSES girls head coach Leslie Eckert said. "I'm very, very proud of how they played this year being a very young team."

Saint Stephen's will go to Naples for its region semifinal Tuesday against Community School of Naples. The Thunder hosts Naples Seacrest Country Day on Tuesday.

The defending state champion Falcon boys' season ended Thursday when neither the team nor any individuals advanced.

Neither Bradenton Christian's boys or girls advanced beyond the district tournament, nor did Cardinal Mooney's, although the Alexis Melone won for the Cougars at No. 5 singles.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 12:13 AM with the headline "Prep tennis | Out-of-Door sweeps team district titles ."