It didn’t come easy – seeing their 2-0 lead start to dwindle – but Daviess County’s girls’ tennis found a way to thwart Owensboro Catholic’s comeback attempt and secure their second straight 3rd Region Tennis Team Championship.
“This feels amazing. All I can say is I am so proud of my team,” Daviess County Head Coach Dylan McDuffee said. “We won two matches pretty fast, and the other three were really close. We just needed one of them to pull it out, and it happened. It was our two seniors. I am so proud of them.”
Playing at number two and number three singles, Emmie Kate Williams (6-2, 6-2) and Claire Dunlay (6-0, 6-0) made quick work of their opponents and handed the Lady Panthers match point. The Lady Panthers doubles teams of Alexa Salamah and Maddie Meyer, and Ella Boswell and Ellie Dever, both took their respective first sets before the Lady Aces started to mount their comeback.
Over in the doubles matches, Gabi Moyers and Lexi Moyers took the second set against Salamah and Meyer 7-5, forcing a third-set tiebreaker. Unfazed, the Lady Panthers duo dominated the tiebreaker, winning it 10-2 to secure the Lady Panthers the 3rd Region title.
Before the match was called, the Lady Aces Meredith Traylor won her first set at number one singles against Jenna Fauklner 7-5 and jumped out to a 3-1 second-set lead.
Despite the loss, the Lady Aces are sending the doubles teams of Lexi Moyers and Gabi Moyers and Meredith Traylor and Madison Clark to Bowling Green for semi-state.
“I thought we fought hard and they did a great job,” Owensboro Catholic girls coach Stacie Moyers said. “We knew it was going to be a battle, as they are a very deep team and have very good players.”
On the opposite side of Merchant Centre Court, Owensboro Catholic’s boys’ team’s depth overwhelmed Grayson County, culminating in a 3-0 victory in meticulous fashion. This marks the Aces’ fourth straight boys team championship title.
“We kept the momentum rolling from the day before, and we kept the same lineup,” Owensboro Catholic boys Head Coach Branden Haines said. “I love how everyone came out in the semis, and they kept it rolling into the finals. It is very rare for me to keep the same lineup two days in a row.”
The Aces jumped out to match point behind the doubles team of Luke Pfeifer and Joseph Merchant (6-0, 6-0), and number two singles Henry Haines (6-0, 6-0) cruising to victories. Ben Haines secured the Aces the 3rd Region title with a 6-0, 6-2 win at number three singles.
Before the team State Tournament, which is scheduled for the end of the month, is semi-state at Bowling Green next week.
