Strong teams feud in 8-team tourney

As the world’s best tennis professionals hit the hard courts for the second round of the U.S. Open in New York, Columbia will host its own major of sorts.

The 2006 Great Eight Tennis tournament, hosted by Rock Bridge this weekend, will provide an opportunity for Columbia’s high school teams to gauge themselves against some of the state’s best competition.

And though the field includes teams which consistently have competed for state titles in recent years, like Blue Valley North from Kansas City, Kan., and Belleville West from St. Louis, few players fear what the weekend may bring.

“It’s almost like a picnic,” Hickman senior Megan Darter said Monday of the two-day event, where all eight teams will spend at least part of the weekend on Bethel Park’s eight courts.

The park, which sits just east of the Rock Bridge campus, provides a relaxing environment for players and coaches between matches, but Hickman coach Jerry Price said he doesn’t foresee a lapse in concentration from his team.

“We look forward to playing our best against some great competition,” Price said Monday.

Price will get his wish early on today. Hickman will face No. 1-seeded Belleville West in their first-round match.

Bruins coach Ben Loeb was also enthusiastic about the caliber of competition the tournament provides.

“It’s great to see a lot of good players in one place,” he said.

The Bruins are coming off Tuesday’s 5-4 dual meet victory against Springfield High School from St. Louis that Loeb called “classic.”

“It was a big win, and it gives us confidence,” he said.

Loeb said he expects his team to carry Tuesday’s momentum into their first match against John Burroughs (St. Louis).

“Our depth made the difference (Tuesday), and we’re clearly going to need that on Friday,” Loeb said.

“If we get it (and defeat Burroughs),and if Blue Valley North beats Joplin, it will be interesting to see how we react in that situation.”

If Loeb seems to be hoping Blue Valley wins, it’s only because the team has proven to be such worthy competitors in the past.

Last year, the teams battled to a 5-4 finish with the Bruins winning, but Loeb said the outcome of this potential matchup is anything but certain.

“Judging by last year’s dual, it could be really tough,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for a another classic dual on Friday afternoon.”