RADFORD—Tara Sheets of Gates City High School began her quest for a fourth straight Division A singles state championship with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Jenni Sing of Franklin High School in Thursday’s semifinals at Radford University.

Sing’s lone game victory came when she was down 3-0 in the first set. The match lasted about an hour.

&uot;A lot was going through my mind and I was just trying to calm myself down,&uot; Sing said. &uot;I was just trying to play each point out at that point.&uot;

Sing, and doubles partner Rebecca Stephenson, faced Sheets last year in the state doubles semifinals.

&uot;She (Sheets) probably has improved some. She has really good placement with her balls and she can really nail it,&uot; Sing said. &uot;She is nowhere close to anyone we play in Franklin.&uot;

Sing has happy with her accomplishment of making the finals.

&uot;I hope to do better next year. A lot of it was nerves today,&uot; Sing said.

Franklin head coach Lisa Francis said Sing did the best she could.

&uot;She played her game and did the best she could, going up against a three-time defending champion,&uot; Francis said. &uot;It was the luck of the draw. Had Jenni played one of the other semifinalists, she could have done much better.&uot;

In other action, Chad Cutchins, first singles player for the Windsor High School boys tennis team, reached the group A state championship Thursday, but ended up runner-up.

Cutchins fell 6-2, 6-1 in the finals to Zack Pack, the Region B champion from Randolph Henry High School.

Earlier in the day, Cutchins downed Chad Sheppard of Gate City, the Region D champion, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Cutchins was the Region A singles champion.

The Windsor High School boys team was scheduled to play Radford High School Friday in the state semifinals. The doubles team of Cutchins and Corey Medley were also scheduled to play in the semis on Friday against Alex Goetting and Xavier Alarcon of George Mason High School.