Lady Chargers returning to state tournament
CCS wins some hard-fought singles matches in overcoming Greenbrier 4-1.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Class AAA: Cleveland’s girls advanced to their first state tournament since 2001 with a 4-3 victory over Siegel. Maclain Yowarsky and Ayesha Rock had the big win at No. 2 doubles, defeating Hayley Edwards and Caroline Elbaum, 8-6. Patten Feehrer, Yowarsky and Rock won in singles for the Lady Raiders.
“The wins at the bottom of our lineup were crucial, and the Yowarsky/Rock win was the clincher,” Cleveland coach Elizabeth Davis said. “They all played great today, and this was a hard-fought win.”
Siegel beat the Cleveland boys 4-0.
Class AAA Sectionals
CLEVELAND GIRLS 4, SIEGEL 3
Singles: Kelly Gray (S) def. Catherine Jordan, 6-2, 6-2; Hayley Edwards (S) def. Kelsey Cantrell, 4-6, 6-2, 0-6; Maclain Yowarsky (C) def. Caroline Elbaum, 6-3, 6-0; Patten Feehrer (C) def. Jessica Boles, 6-3, 6-0; Ayesha Rock (C) def. Misato Okamura, 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles: Gray/Boles (S) def. Jordan/Cantrell, 8-5; Yowarsky/Rock (C) def. Elbaum/Edwards, 8-6.
SIEGEL BOYS 4, CLEVELAND 0
Singles: Ben Todd def. Tyler Wickman, 6-4, 6-3; Peter Elbaum def. Jake Pullen, 6-3, 6-2; Brad Leeman def. Alex Klibisz, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); Michael Horenkamp def. Corey Baggett, 6-4, 6-1.
The Chattanooga Christian girls’ tennis team defeated Greenbrier 4-1 to advance to the Class A/AA state tournament.
The Lady Chargers also beat the heat.
“That was very important for me,” said Melea Taylor, who cramped during her match. “It’s not easy to be focused under those circumstances.”
Taylor fought to a three-set win over Greenbrier’s Mary Price, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Bena DeVaney, Anne Marie Rowe and Suzannah Sliger also had wins, but none were bigger than Sliger’s at No. 4 singles. The sophomore’s 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 win over Jennifer Holbert clinched the win and prevented the Lady Chargers from having to play any doubles matches.
Advancing to the state again was big for CCS, which lost four seniors off last season’s team championship team.
“We knew it would be different,” said Anne Marie Rowe, the team’s lone senior. “We worked hard this season and are pretty shocked and excited about the opportunity.
“We were just trying to get through the district,” CCS coach Sue Webb said.
Now the team will try and battle for another state title.
“It was an awesome match,” Webb said. “The girls played hard and fought for every point. We had some 15-20-stroke rallies, but the girls were determined to stay on the court. Each and every player contributed to the win. Greenbrier played great. There were at least three matches that could go any way.”
