Sydney Dattilo with her East Hamilton coach Michael Jackson after she qualifieid for the state tournament
photo by Crystal Dattilo
sectiional doubles champis Bailey Coyner and Shelby Noe of Soddy Daisy will play in the state tournament next week.
photo by Keith Coyner
Soddy Daisy girls doubles champs Bailey Coyner and Shelby Noe and singles winner Sydney Dattilo of East Hamilton are headed to the Spring Fling XIV state tennis tournament next week in Murefeesboro, but the victories didn’t come easy.
The Trojan duo dropped the first set to their Cookeville opponents but rallied to win the last two and the match.
Dattilo faced Soddy Daisy senior and 2016 state qualifier Olivia Crawley and like the Trojans duo Dattilo lost the first set, but won the final two and the match for a trip to state.
“Olivia is a great player and you can never underestimate her,” said Dattilo who beat Crawley in the region finals last week. “She can always make a comeback.”
Crawley started strong winning the first set 6-2, but Dattilo took the second set, 6-4, and won the third set tie breaker, 7-6 (7-1).
“After dropping that first set I thought I was going to lose the match, but re-grouped did my best to keep from thinking about what was on the line (trip to the state tournament) and just played one point at a time.”
Tennis and Exams: Dattilo didn’t have much time to enjoy her win as she took a French final exam this morning (Wed.), has a Chemistry Honors final Thursday and a Geometry project due Friday.
Lots of Tennis: While many of her friends were out of town during spring break, Dattilo stayed home and practiced five hours a day on her game with coach Ryan Reeves.
Girls Singles
Finals: (1) Sydney Dattilo (East Hamilton) def. Olivia Crawley (Soddy Daisy), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1)
Semifinals: Crawley def. Katie Ward (Cookeville), 6-0, 6-0; Dattilo def. Sarah Edwards (Rhea County), 6-0, 6-3
Girls Doubles
Finals: Shelby Noe-Bailey Coyner (Soddy Daisy) def. Sarah Gaw-Natalie Crooks (Cookeville), 5-7, 7-5, 6-0
Semifinals: Noe-Coyner def. Taylor-Foutch (Cookeville), 6-2, 5-7, 6-0; Gaw-Crooks (Cookeville) def. Buckner-Fugate (Walker Valley), 6-4, 6-2
Boys Singles
Finals: Cole Crosland (White County) def. Jared Elrod (Bradley County), 6-2, 6-1
Semifinals: Crosland def. Nolan Cawood (Walker Valley), 6-1, 6-1; Elrod def. Taylor Price (Rhea County), 6-0, 6-3
Boys Doubles
Finals: Alek Kriskovich-Marlon Ngo (Cookeville) def. Vareen Patel- Jack Hughes (Cleveland), 6-4, 6-2
Semifinals: Patel-Hughes def. Calbaugh-Hall (Rhea County), 6-2, 6-2; Kriskovivh-Ngo def. Allen Swetman-Adam Klibisz (Cleveland), 6-2, 6-2
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net