Friday, May 16, 2014
- by B.B. Branton
MURFREESBORO - Another excellent season ended a match short of their goal here Thursday as the Soddy Daisy girls tennis team lost to Siegel, 4-2, in a state quarterfinals (sectionals) match at Old Fort Park Tennis Complex.
The Trojans (13-1) lost to the Stars for the second straight year in the sectionals and have a four year record of 56-13 under coach Lorri Johnson with two district and two regional titles.
Siegel (13-2) led 3-2 after singles and earned the team win and a ticket to the state tournament with a 9-8 (7-5) triumph at No.1 doubles.
In a doubles match as close as the score, Siegel's Marissa Kovach and Ragen White trailed 5-3 in 8-game pro set before rallying to defeat Chloe Mitchell and Abigail Ellis to win the match in the 7-point tiebreaker.
Chloe Mitchell (No.2) and Katelynn Coyner (No.4) had singles victories for the Troians, while Marissa Kovach (No.1), Lexie Greene (No.3) and Haley Nance (No.5) had wins for the Stars.
"This was a tough loss for us, but we will go back to work for another year with our goal to qualify for state," said coach Johnson who has one senior (Abigail Ellis) in her top six.
Siegel Girls 4, Soddy Daisy 2
singles
Marissa Kovach (S) def. Olivia Crawley, 6-2, 6-0
Chloe Mitchell (SD) def. Ragen White, 6-4, 6-2
Lexie Greene (S) def. Abigail Ellis, 6-2, 6-2
Katelynn Coyner (SD) def. Katie White, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Haley Nance (S) def. Kacey Stephens, 6-0,6-3
doubles
Kovach-R. White (S) def, Ellis-Mitchell, 9-8 (5)
Siegel (13-2), Soddy Daisy (13-1)
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net