The quarterfinals and semifinals of the 2026 3rd Region Tennis Tournament have come to a close, and the championship matches are set. The finals are set for this evening at 4 p.m.
AHS: Apollo’s lone representative on day two was the doubles team of Morgan Shook and Scout Carroll, who bowed out in the quarterfinals against Daviess County.
DCHS: It will be an all Daviess County girls’ singles finals as Emmie Kate Williams and Jenna Faulkner both went 2-0 on the day. Landon McDuffee advanced to the finals for boys’ singles, and awaiting him is a rematch from last year’s 3rd Region Championship with Edmonson County’s Brayden Johnson.
In girls’ doubles, Ella Boswell and Ellie Dever advanced to the finals and will take on Owensboro Catholic’s Madison Clark and Meredith Traylor. Their second doubles team of Maddie Meyer and Alexah Salamah fell in the semi-finals to Owensboro Catholic. Despite the loss, Meyer and Salamah clinched their spot in the State Tournament.
The Panthers’ doubles team of Christian Farmer and Walt Yeiser, and singles player Eli Bivens all saw their tournament come to an end in the quarterfinals.
“I am very proud of Landon. He played great in the semis,” Daviess County Head Coach Dylan McDuffee said. “We need the same energy tomorrow. Both of our girls’ singles players, Emmie Kate and Jenna, played confidently. Meeting in the finals will be a fun match and I hope they can carry their momentum going in. Ella and Ellie going to the finals is great for them. They’ve played great all season and are proving it now.”
OHS: Despite losing in the semi-finals to Owensboro Catholic, Owensboro’s boys’ doubles team of John Clay Ford and Walker Gaddis punched their ticket to the State Tournament. Drew Hohnson and Jeremy Gillihan also competed on the second day, but lost in the quarterfinals.
“Our entire team, boys and girls, advanced to the round of sixteen, which was fantastic,” Owensboro boys Head Coach Clay Ford said. “We had a tough draw across the board in singles, but played very well. We had two boys’ doubles teams advance to the quarterfinals in Drew Johnson and Jeremy Gillihan, and Walker Gaddis and John Clay Ford. Walker and John Clay were able to win and qualify for the state tournament. They played a tough #2 seed and lost, but we were very proud of all of our players and their progress throughout the year. We are excited for Walker and John Clay to play in the state tournament.”
OCHS: Owensboro Catholic will be well represented in today’s championship round, as the doubles teams of Meredith Traylor and Madison Clark and Henry Haines and Joseph Merchant both advanced.
The doubles teams of Ben Haines and Luke Pfiefer and Alexis Moyers and Gabrielle Moyers and the boys’ singles players Ollie Haines and Jack Haines all saw their tournament runs come to an end in the semi-finals. However, their season is still on going as all of them secured a spot in the State Tournament.
Sophia Merchant fell in the quarterfinals of girls’ singles in a matchup that went to tiebreakers.
“I was really proud of the boys tonight. Eighth grader Ollie Haines and freshman Jack Haines both lost in singles to the region champ and region runner-up from last year,” Owensboro Catholic boys Head Coach Branden Haines said. “Freshmen Ben Haines and senior Luke Pfeifer came up just short by losing both sets in tiebreakers. If a couple of balls go their way, they win both sets. After losing a heartbreaker in the first set, they battled back in the second, which shows a lot of maturity. Eighth grader Henry Haines and sophomore Joseph Merchant are playing on another level, striking the ball off both wings so cleanly. They beat a very good team tonight. Henry and Joseph beat a top eight team in the state this past weekend, and I loved their chances and confidence coming into Region. I am so proud of all the boys for qualifying for State.”
