All six members of the Grove High School girls’ tennis squad qualified for state at the regional tournament, held at Tulsa’s Cascia Hall on Monday, May 5.
“I am really proud of our girls for qualifying our whole team to the state tournament for the second straight year,” said Coach Todd Kerr. “Our players competed hard. They did as well we had expected, according to their tournament seedings.”
The Lady Ridgerunners will compete at the Class 5A state tournament in Oklahoma City this Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10.
In No. 2 doubles, seniors Ashley Hampton and Taylor Vazquez captured second place, losing to Cascia Hall’s duo. Hampton and Vazquez defeated teams from Tahlequah and McAlester before they fell in the championship. Kerr said the pair should be seeded in the top four at the state competition.
Seniors Madison Correa and Kenadie Roach claimed fourth place in No. 1 doubles, succumbing to a pair from McAlester in the consolation finals. Earlier, Correa and Roach had beaten squads from East Central and Del City, but they also suffered a setback to a Cascia Hall duo.
In No. 1 singles, Kenidee Wakeland earned fourth place, after falling to a Piedmont opponent in the consolation finals. Wakeland previously defeated competitors from Del City and East Central, while also losing to a Cascia Hall player.
Sophomore Tori Lee, in No. 2 singles, received fourth place, following her setback to a McAlester opponent during the consolation finals. Lee won earlier matches over Tahlequah and East Central competitors, but she also was beaten by a Cascia Hall opponent.
