Joyce wins for Carson tennis

It can't exactly be said that Carson High's Kelsey Joyce has been rewarded for advancing to the second round of the Northern 4A singles championships in tennis.

Joyce, the Sierra League's No. 8 seed, did win her first round match on Thursday, 6-1, 7-6. But her "reward" is the chance to face the High Desert League's No. 1 seed, Galena's Julie Burgarello, who's favored to win the zone title. Burgarello advanced with a 6-0, 6-0 win.

Also advancing was Douglas High's Nikki Villoria, the Sierra League's No. 5 seed, who won 6-0, 6-0. Melissa Oglesby, the Sierra League's No. 2 seed, was upset in her first round match, losing 6-2, 4-6, 4-6.

In addition in singles, Carson's Michelle Van Epps played well in a 3-6, 4-6 loss to Bishop Manogue's Stephanie Hooft, the High Desert's No. 5 seed.

In boys singles, all three of Galena's players advanced. Abe Rubenstein, the High Desert's No. 2 seed, won 6-0, 6-0, Collin Davis, the High Desert's No. 4 seed, won 6-0, 6-1 and Gavin Dellar, the High Desert's No. 7 seed, won 6-4, 6-3.

For Carson, Jeff Van Epps, the Sierra League's No. 8 seed, lost 2-6, 6-7 (6-8). Carson's Evan Thayer also lost his first round match.

The zone tournament will continue today with the second round of singles and the first round of doubles. The Douglas and Carson boys have the Sierra League's top two seeds in doubles as the Tigers' Gabe Groden and Josh Sorich are seeded No. 1 and the Senators' Tyler Lewis and Josh Caron are seeded No. 2. For Carson's girls, Amber Whitworth and Greta Schnaser are the Sierra League's No. 5 seed and Shanni Eng and Amy Milholland are seeded No. 8.