Girls tennis: Eight local teams part of new dual-style state team tournament
Apr. 25—Girls tennis team tournaments are scheduled to begin Wednesday, though that could quickly change with a mix of rain and snow expected to hit.
Stay tuned.
Whenever the courts are dry enough to play on, eight local teams will take part in the new format to decide the sport's team state champions. In previous years, individual and team winners were awarded at the end of three-day tournaments that featured individual player brackets at each position. But now, only individual winners will be crowned at those tournaments in Denver (Class 5A), Pueblo (4A) and Colorado Springs (3A) on May 11-13.
The team race will instead go through a 16-team bracket in each classification, with the higher seed hosting through the semifinals. Team championship matches will be held at Denver City Park on May 16.
Back in the fall, boys tennis was the first to try out the new dual-style postseason format. Cherry Creek won the 5A title, while Kent Denver won 4A.
Below are the first-round matchups for each local team. The time and date of each match is currently in flux due to inclement weather.
Class 5A
No. 15 Arapahoe at No. 2 Fairview
What to know: More like who to know? And that's none other than junior ace Quinn Bernthal. The 2022 5A No. 1 singles runner-up has been rarely tested this spring, losing just once while leading the Knights to an 11-1 dual record and a Front Range League title. Now the question is, can she lead Fairview to a 5A team title? The Knights have finished second to Cherry Creek the past two seasons.
No. 11 Boulder at No. 6 Fossil Ridge
What to know: The Panthers have a strong singles lineup featuring Sandra Redak (No. 1), Tessa Botha (No. 2) and Jessie LeBlang (No. 3). In a dual match against the Sabercats last month, all three singles players won in a 4-3 loss. Redak beat Fossil Ridge's Sophie Hartman in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
No. 16 Legacy at No. 1 Cherry Creek
What to know: Cherry Creek has won a state-most 38 team titles, the most by a wide margin over any other girls tennis program in the state. Meaning, Legacy is playing with house money. No. 3 singles player Emma Nguyen won nine of her 10 matches in dual play this spring, all of them in straight sets.
Class 4A
No. 12 Dakota Ridge at No. 5 Niwot
What to know: Alys Pop is one of the best aces in the classification, touting an impressively tough resume this spring. Last year, she reached the state semifinals before falling to Cheyenne Mountain's Maya Michalski. This year, she's faced (and lost to) top 5A players in Fairview's Bernthal, Valor Christian's Caroline Daugherty and Cherry Creek's Lorena Cedeno.
No. 13 Longmont at No. 4 Thompson Valley
What to know: The Trojans won the NCAC crown less than a week ago, edging 3A No. 1 Holy Family. Lauren Pavot has led the way for Longmont this spring, winning each of her season's matches in straight sets. In the NCAC No. 1 singles title match, she quickly dispatched Windsor's Zaylee Rose, who was 9-1 coming in, per MaxPreps.
Class 3A
No. 16 Colorado Springs School at No. 1 Holy Family
What to know: The Tigers have arguably the best doubles pairings in the classification. All four, in fact, won their lines at the NCAC tournament late last week. Earlier in the season, led by the No. 1 doubles grouping of Sarah Stonehocker and Clara Meisner, they beat No. 2 Colorado Academy and No. 3 D'Evelyn, sweeping doubles play.
No. 13 Berthoud at No. 4 Peak to Peak
What to know: No. 2 singles player Sydney Lewis has won all nine of her matches on MaxPreps. All in straight sets. With her leading the way, the Pumas went 6-1 in duals, which included a win over No. 2 Colorado to begin the season.
No. 9 St. Mary's Academy at No. 8 Dawson
What to know: The Mustangs will need their doubles teams to continue their standout play if they hope for a deep run in the bracket. Kate Aldworth and Tabby Meere have been strong at 1-doubles. As have Caitlin Budacz-Kauflin and Mia Stein at No. 2. They beat St. Mary's Academy, 4-3, two weeks ago thanks to a doubles sweep.
