Auburndale girls qualify for state tennis tournament for 2nd straight year

Roy Fuoco, The Ledger
·2 min read
Auburndale senior Madison Newbern hits a forehand back to Orlando Edgewater's Addison Taylor at their No. 4 singles match on Thursday in the Class 3A region finals.
Auburndale senior Madison Newbern hits a forehand back to Orlando Edgewater's Addison Taylor at their No. 4 singles match on Thursday in the Class 3A region finals.

LAKELAND — History repeated itself on Thursday — well, sort of.

For the second year in a row, Auburndale senior Madison Newbern's come-from-behind victory proved pivotal win for the Bloodhounds. This year it was the clinching victory that gave the Bloodhounds a 4-0 victory over Orlando Edgewater in the Class 3A region final at the Beerman Family Tennis Center.

With the victory, Auburndale qualified for the girls tennis state tournament for the second year in a row.

"I think it's fun," Newbern said. "We're all best friends, and it's just fun to spend time together."

The Bloodhounds are the only Polk County team to qualify for the state tournament. George Jenkins No. 1 singles player Nick Kumria, and McKeel's No. 1 doubles team of Jada Hutto and Sarah Steeves also qualified as individuals.

More: Regional tennis: Auburndale sweeps New Smyrna Beach, will host region finals

More: Class 3A tennis: Auburndale girls, Lakeland boys, advance to state

The state tournament begins on Monday. Auburndale will play at Sanlando Park in Atlamonte Springs beginning Monday. Kumria will begin play Wednesday at Sanlando Park, and Hutto and Steeves will begin play on Wednesday at Sylvan Lake Park in Sanford.

Last year, Auburndale defeated Edgewater, 4-2. The two team split four of the five single matches before Newbern prevailed in a three-hour marathon match that gave the Bloodhounds a 3-2 lead going into doubles. She and Peyton Battilla then won at No 1 doubles to clinch the match.

Auburndale junior Camila Guilarte hits a forehand back to Orlando Edgewater's Alynn Richards at their No. 3 singles match on Thursday in the Class 3A region finals.
Auburndale junior Camila Guilarte hits a forehand back to Orlando Edgewater's Alynn Richards at their No. 3 singles match on Thursday in the Class 3A region finals.

This year, Newbern's match clinched a singles sweep at the first four positions that gave the Bloodhounds the win. She defeated Addison Taylor, 3-6, 6-3, 10-5. Of the four victories, it was the only close match.

McKenna Battilla needed less than 45 minutes to dispatch Omega Ba, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 singles. Peyton Battilla closed out Ellie Chancey, 6-0, 6-0, shortly after her sister's win.

Camila Guilarte beat Alynn Richards, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3 to put the Bloodhounds on the verge of clinching.Auburndale's Ali Spencer and Edgewater's Neah Montgomery were engaged in a battle at No. 5 when Newbern finally closed out her match to give Auburndale the win.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Auburndale girls qualify for state tennis tournament for 2nd straight year