Carson tennis players advance at zone

All four of Carson High's top boys and girls tennis players advanced on Thursday in the Northern 4A Championships at Reno's Plumas Center.

Lisa Midboe, Christa Casci, Jeff Van Epps and Spencer Brinson all advanced after winning their first round matches. Grant Jeppson, who won a series of challenge matches to earn the right to play in the zone event, also played well before losing in three sets.

Brinson won 6-1, 6-2 and Van Epps beat Truckee's No. 1 player 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2). "I'm very happy," said Carson coach Pat Houlihan about his players' effort.

Jeppson lost 3-6, 6-1, 3-6. "He played very well," Houlihan said. "He peaked at the right time. He was just thrilled he was able to go."

Brinson and Van Epps have tough matches ahead of them. Brinson will play the Manogue player who beat Jeppson and with a win, he would advance to the quarterfinals where he would likely face Reno High's unbeaten Jeffrey Mullin. Van Epps will face Galena's Collin Davis in the second round.

For the girls, Midboe won 6-0, 6-1 and Casci won 6-3, 6-1. The singles and doubles event continues today. "We'll see what happens," Houlihan said.