Two local tennis powerhouses met on Wednesday to decide the 2023 Class AAAA girls tennis state championship for SCISA. And, just as the two regular-season meetings had, the finale came down to the wire.
Porter-Gaud won four of the six singles matches and secured the all-important fifth point with a come-from-behind win at No. 1 doubles to edge Ashley Hall, 5-3, at the St. Andrews Tennis Center for the S.C. Independent Schools Association title. It was Porter-Gaud’s third win over Ashley Hall, with both of the previous meetings finishing at 5-4.
“We always hope to win it in singles but based on the earlier matches, we knew it could come down to doubles,” Porter-Gaud coach Tracy Zirneklis said. “The girls played hard. It was a great day. I’m really proud of them. I knew our chances were better than ever this year and we had some ups and downs through the season. But, we pulled it together when it mattered.”
Porter-Gaud defeated Heathwood Hall in the semifinals, while Ashley Hall knocked off defending state champion Trinity Collegiate to reach the finals for the second straight year. The championship match was originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14, but was delayed on that date to weather.
Singles winners for Porter-Gaud included McKenzie Barth at No. 1, Rachel Blais at No. 2, Georgia Yarborough (No. 3) and Madelyn Barth (No. 4).
Ashley Hall won No. 5 and No. 6 singles with Grace Taylor and Mattie Laney posting victories.
The Barth sisters, freshman McKenzie and junior Madelyn, formed the No. 1 doubles team for Porter-Gaud and lost the first set to the Ashley tandem of Lily Sloan and Emma Tedford. Porter-Gaud rallied to win the second set and secured the championship with a win in the tie-breaker.
“They are tough girls and they dug deep after that first set,” Zirnelkis said.
Ashley Hall won No. 3 doubles with Emorie Stockton and Mattie Laney taking the victory. The No. 2 doubles was not completed.
“We knew it would be a close match but we felt we had a shot,” Ashley Hall coach Charlotte Hartsock said. “I think our team got better as the season went along. I’m proud of the girls. It was a good accomplishment just to be here with a chance.”
Singles: No. 1 McKenzie Barth (PG) def. Lily Sloan, 6-3, 6-1; No. 2 Rachel Blais (PG) def. Emma Tedford, 6-4, 6-1; No. 3 Georgia Yarborough (PG) def. Martha Rivers, 2-6, 6-3, 1-0; No. 4 Madelyn Barth (PG) def. Emorie Stockton, 6-1, 6-1; No. 5 Grace Taylor (AH) def. Nora Kanich, 7-5, 6-0; No. 6 Mattie Laney (AH) def. Amelia Flynn, 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles: No. 1 Barth/Barth (PG) def. Sloan/Telford, 2-6, 6-2, 10-5; No. 2 Blais/Yarborough (PG) v Tedford/ Taylor DNF; No. 3 Stockton/Laney (AH) def. Celia Powers/Elizabeth Hooff, 6-0, 6-1.
SCISA volleyball
For the first time since winning a state title in 2008, the Northwood Academy volleyball team earned another shot at a championship, taking on defending state champion Cardinal Newman in the SCISA Class AAAA state finals on Tuesday night.
A talented and veteran squad from Cardinal Newman ended the Chargers’ dreams of a championship, sweeping Northwood Academy by, 3-0, to win a third title in four years at the Charleston Southern Fieldhouse.
The Chargers finish the 2023 season with a 30-12-1 record, which included two playoff wins over perennial SCISA area power Porter-Gaud in the state tournament.