That Winning Smile: Notre Dame doubles team of Sarah Joyce (left) and Sarah Faith Ingell hold the D-I A-AA state championship trophy
photo by Roger Ross
Foster Grants?? The Notre Dame Ladies on the shades after winning the state championship Wednesday - (l-r) Bowie Strozak, Maddie Robbins, Sarah Joyce, Mary Margaret Haywood, Sarah Faith Ingell, Jessica Moore
photo by Roger Ross
State Champs - (l-r) - Nancy Fox (head coach), Bowie Strozak, Maddie Robbins, Jessica Moore, Sarah Joyce, Sarah Faith Ingell, Mary Margaret Haywood, Gary McIntyre (asst. coach)
photo by Roger Ross
Jessica Moore of Notre Dame prepares to hit a return in the state finals Wednesday
photo by Dennis Norwood
Notre Dame's Sarah Joyce
photo by Dennis Norwood
MURFREESBORO - The state tennis championship was on the line, but for a fleeting moment, senior Sarah Joyce thought back to her freshman year as she and Danika Dorris trailed 3-4 at No.1 doubles against Christian Academy of Knoxville. As was the case today, the state title was on the line.
“Today we had just lost our serve to go down 3-4 and I remembered three years ago Danika and I were in the same situation,” said Joyce.
And Joyce and today’s partner Sarah Faith Ingell are glad history does repeat itself as the Irish duo rallied to win the final five games at No.1 and as the last Greeneville shot sailed long an Irish tennis celebration began with a 4-2 state finals win.
“Sarah Faith and I have played well together all year and we were definitely running on adrenalin those last few games,” Joyce stated with a smile and a sigh of relief.
Improving to 15-2, Notre Dame has been in the finals three of the past four years with a win in 2012 and a runner-up finish to CAK in 2014.
“When I saw that last ball in the air I said to myself, ’please go out,’” said Ingell with a smile.
And it did.
Singles was a battle as the Irish led 3-2 heading into doubles and one point shy of a title.
Notre Dame claimed wins at Nos. 2-3-5 from Ingell, Mary Margret Haywood and Bowie Strozak, while Greeneville won at No.1 with Ellie Pectol and Bailey Snelson at No.4. Three of the five were three setters.
In the No.1 doubles, Joyce and Ingell took a quick 2-0 lead, but then trailed 3-4 before winning the last five for title.
“I am exhausted and I didn’t even hit a ball today,” said Notre Dame coach Nancy Fox as she held the championship coaches plaque.
“Sarah and Sarah Faith played out of their minds those last three games.”
Assistant coach Gary McIntyre commented,” They (Sarah and Sarah Faith) were really dialed in and serious in that tough doubles final. You could see it in their faces.”
And after the last ball sailed long past the baseline they had the smiling faces of champions once again.
Notes: State Doubles Thursday … Joyce and Ingell will put their team medals aside tomorrow and play a quarterfinal doubles match at 1:30 p.m. EDT against Abby Bruff-Maddie King of Union City … on the boys side, senior Charles Jabaley opens singles play at 1 p.m. EDT against Jacob Lorino (Knox. Catholic).
Four State Tennis Titles: The Irish girls won in 2012 and 2015 and the boys won it in 1962 and 1963.
Notre Dame 4 Greeneville 2
Ellie Pectol (G) def. Sarah Joyce, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
Sarah Faith Ingell (ND) def. Sydia Lollar
Mary Margret Haywood (ND) def, Madison Hite, 6-4, 6-2
Bailey Snelson (G) def. Jessica Moore, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Bowie Strozak (ND) def. Madison Grubbs, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
Sarah Joyce-Sarah Faith Ingell (ND) def, Ellie Pectol-Sydia Lollar
Record: ND (15-2)
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net