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KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – Elissa Mason could have brought the revenge factor to the court for Tuesday’s Okinawa Activities Council District Tennis Singles Tournament girls final against Cait Frandsen.

After all, Frandsen and Tammi Ragan of Kubasaki only five days earlier surprised Mason and Katie Mundie of Kadena in the OAC doubles finals.

"No, I just tried to forget last week, refresh and do what I usually do," Mason said of Tuesday’s singles tilt.

What Kadena’s junior star usually does is win, in this case her third straight district gold medal, easily downing Frandsen, a senior, 8-1 at Kadena’s Risner Tennis Complex.

"You have to have stamina. She runs you across the court. She knows where to place the ball," Frandsen said.

In the boys final, Kadena junior teammates Eliott Mason and defending OAC and Far East tournament champion Kyle Sprow met for the OAC title a second straight year, and Sprow repeated his 2007 success 8-2.

But the match was much closer than the score indicated, Sprow said.

"He matches up well with me. He has an effective first serve, especially to the forehand side. When he’s on his game, he can be extremely dangerous."

To beat Sprow, Mason said, one must "stay consistent, play your best, never give up and get him frustrated."

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Dave Ornauer has been employed by or assigned to Stars and Stripes Pacific almost continuously since March 5, 1981. He covers interservice and high school sports at DODEA-Pacific schools and manages the Pacific Storm Tracker.

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