After back-to-back grueling quarterfinals and semifinals matches yesterday, the 3rd Region tennis finals are set for both singles and doubles on the boys’ and girls’ sides. The girls’ singles matchup is between Owensboro Catholic’s Ella Cason and Grayson County’s Ava Walker, while the doubles match is an all Lady Aces affair – Sophie Merchant and Meredith Traylor will face off against Madison Clark and Lexi Moyers.
On the boys’ side, Daviess County’s Landon McDuffee is set to take on Edmonson County’s Brayden Johnson. On the doubles side, the semi-finals were rained out, but both matchups include Owensboro Catholic taking on Grayson County and will see the pairs of Houston Danzer and Joseph Merchant and Henry Haines and Oliver Haines.
The Hornets’ Lukas Anderson fell to Johnson in the quarters of boys’ singles, while Tre Hancock and Kyle Anderson lost to Grayson County.
“They battled hard, and many games were very close,” Hancock County head coach Dan Hopkins said. “Many have complimented Lukas on his serve as the best in the Region, and I believe it. Now he has to take the next step and battle these top players from the baseline. If they work hard in the off-season, next year could be really good.”
Apollo’s Sophie Jennings advanced to the semi-finals before falling to Walker, but automatically qualified for the State Tournament. The E-Gals Dilback lost in the quarters, while the doubles team of Pate and Wilson and Ebelhar and McManus both lost in the quarterfinals. On the boys side, Franey lost his quarterfinal singles match to McDuffee.
Despite losing in the semi-finals, Owensboro’s John Clay Ford advanced to the State Tournament.
“I was proud of John Clay’s run in the tournament, and I’m looking forward to watching him play at the State Tournament in Lexington,” Owensboro boys head coach Clay Ford said.
The Lady Devils Drew Crandall and the doubles team of Carsyn Cecil and Reese Boswell both lost in the quarters.
“Senior Drew Crandall has only played for two seasons, but she was able to earn some points against Sophie Jennings, a returning state contender,” Owensboro girls’ head coach Madeline Williams said. “This was only their fifth match together this season, but they were able to pull out a game. I’m proud of the hard work all of my less-experienced players put in today.”
Joining McDuffee at state are Emmie Kate Williams in singles, and the doubles team of Maddie Meyer and Alexa Salamah. The boys’ doubles team of Eli Bivens and Matthew Dunlay fell just short in the quarters to the Aces.
Ben Haines and Mary Grace Edge both lost their singles matches in the quarterfinals, but Owensboro Catholic is sending four doubles teams to state, Cason for girls’ singles, and Jack Haines for boys’ singles.
The 3rd Region Finals are set to start tonight at 4 pm at Apollo.
