It took almost a month to complete, but Albemarle’s girls’ tennis team held off crosstown rival and area power, Western Albemarle, 7-2, on Thursday.

With senior Ben Fitts and sophomores Joey Manilla and Alex Preve, there was no question that the 2008 edition of the Warriors was capable of defending its crown.

For Western Albemarle’s Joey Manilla, superstitions aren’t just a good luck charm — they’re a way of life. He’s looking for just about every mental edge he can find — even if it means wearing layers.