State Tennis Semis - Final Story

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McCallie Netters In State Final

 

Five Area Schools Fall

 

Chattanooga prep tennis saved its best for last as three-time defending state champion McCallie defeated Memphis University School, 4-1, in a D-II AA state semis, and faces Webb in Wednesday's final (2 p.m. EDT) at the BlueCross Spring Fling XVI in Murfreesboro.

 

With the exception of the Blue Tornado win, the balance of power in high school tennis has shifted away from the traditionally strong Chattanooga area. At least for this week.

 

The Chattanooga area qualified six teams - four girls' and two boys' - for the state final four and five lost semifinal matches earlier today.

 

Knoxville and Memphis areas have the most teams (four each) in the finals with Webb boys and girls', Christian Academy of Knoxville girls and Knox Catholic boys to go along with Hutchison, White Station girls', St. George's girls' and Lausanne boys' from the west. Nashville area has both University School Nashville teams and Brentwood boys', Science Hill has its two squads, and a pair from University School Jackson.

 

But playing under the lights with an enthusiastic crowd entertained by top level prep tennis from three other D-II AA schools - MUS, Webb and MBA - McCallie came out fast, winning the first set in each of the five singles matches.

 

Always tough MUS battled back to win at No.1 singles (Will Carter), and forced second set tie-breakers at Nos. 3 and 5, but it was too little too late as McCallie clinched in singles. Victors for McCallie were Thomas Fanjoy (No.2), Sawyer Voges (No.3), William Disterdick (No.4) and Nathan Winters (No.5). Winters was down 4-1 in the second set, but rallied to win a tie-beaker, 7-3.

 

Webb, arguably the best team in the state, fought off an emotionally charged MBA squad to win, 4-2. Webb beat McCallie, 5-2, in the region finals and edged MBA twice.

 

"We came out strong from the start and then weathered a couple of MUS rallies for the win,'' stated McCallie coach Eric Voges. "It was pretty neat with four strong teams going at it under the lights.''

Voges also noted that McCallie had not played well the past couple of weeks, but had had a good week of practice leading up to the semis. [/size]

 

Chattanooga area teams to fall in the semis were Chattanooga Christian girls' and Notre Dame boys' in D-I A-AA, Cleveland girls' in D-I AAA, St. Andrews-Sewanee girls' in D-II A and GPS in D-II AA.

 

Chattanooga teams have compiled 11 state titles among the six teams in the past four years; CCS (4 in a row), GPS (3 in a row), McCallie (3 in a row) and SAS (1).

 

McCallie needs a win in the finals to keep Chattanooga area tennis from being shutout of a state title for the first time since 1995. That year, Brentwood Academy won the girls' crown and MBA captured the boys title.

 

D-I AAA Girls': Entering only four players in a 5 singles/2 doubles format, White Station girls' defeated Cleveland, 4-1. A young Blue Raiders team - one senior in the top five - ended the season 10-1 with region and sectional titles in hand.

 

"Our girls definitely felt the pressure today,'' said Cleveland coach Elizabeth Davis. "But, we had a real good year and we'll be back.''

 

White Station will face Science Hill, a 4-3 winner against Ravenwood, in the final.

 

White Station brought only four players due to the fact that No.5 Sally Kim, on orders by her parents', staying at home this week to study for final exams (Wednesday-Friday). The team alternate, Angelica Saulsberry, had an academic competition scheduled in Nashville this week.

 

"Our players are so young - three freshman and a sophomore - that they are pretty oblivious to the pressure of playing in a state tournament and they put the other issues aside and went out and played solid tennis,'' said White Station coach Paul Ross.

 

It will be interesting to see how this young team from the Memphis area plays in the finals down a point when they wake up Wednesday morning.

 

Science Hill is also a new kid on the block, reaching its first state final.

 

D-I AAA Boys': Science Hill looks for a three-peat on Wednesday as the Hilltoppers (15-1), state champs in 2007 and 2008, meet unbeaten Brentwood (10-0). In the semis, Science Hill stopped Siegel 4-0, while Brentwood posted a similar score against White Station.

 

D-I A-AA Girls': A veteran Christian Academy of Knoxville defeated four-time defending state champs Chattanooga Christian, 4-0, in a re-match of last year's final. CAK meets University School Jackson in the final.

 

"We were the veteran team last year, and CAK had the experience this time,'' said CCS coach Sue Webb. "We lose one starter to graduation and we have some good players coming up, so we will be back.''

 

D-I A-AA Boys': Defending champs Knoxville Catholic boys defeated Notre Dame, 4-0, and will face University School Jackson in tomorrow's final. USJ won titles in 2007 and 2008.

 

D-II A Girls': St. George's upset defending state champs St. Andrews-Sewanee, 4-3. St.George's faces University School Nashville for the title. The victors clinched the win at No. 2 doubles.

 

SAS had victories from Sadie Shackelford (No.1) and sister Avery Shackelford (No.2) and the Shackelfords claimed No.1 doubles.

 

D-II A Boys': Defending champion University School Nashville defeated St. George's, 4-0, while Lausanne stopped Davidson Academy, 4-0.

 

D-II AA Girls': Hutchison (13-0) edged three-time defending state champs GPS, 4-1. The Bruisers' point came at No.1 singles when Sarah Evans defeated Hayly Humphries (10-1), in a battle of the unbeatens.

 

Hutchison faces Webb - a 4-1 victor against Harpeth Hall in the other semis - in the finals.

 

"We have not been tested this season and I knew our match with GPS would be more than a test,'' said Hutchison coach Phil Chamberlain."We must play 10% better tomorrow in order to win.''

 

It will be Webb's swang song in D-II AA as the school moves down to D-II A classification.The Spartans have won six state titles, the last coming in 2005, while Hutchison seeks its first.

 

"I told the girls that there is nothing to hang our heads for,'' said GPS coach Sue Bartlett. "We had a good year and have a veteran team coming back.''

 

D-II AA Boys': McCallie defeated MUS, 4-1, in a re-match of the 2008 final. Webb stopped MBA, 4-2.

 

Match results for all semifinal matches are posted on the www.tssaa.org web site.

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

 

story also posted on chattanoogan.com