GAINESVILLE — North Hall girls tennis coach Robert Woodworth was hoping for a close match against defending Class 3A state champion Westminster, the team that knocked them out of the semifinals in 2017.
He got one, and nearly a lot more Wednesday in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs at the North Hall Courts.
The Lady Trojans took the Lady Wildcats down to the deciding match and a deciding third set before falling 3-2 in a tense, gut-wrenching four-plus hour match.
It was a far cry from the 5-0 loss they suffered in last year’s semifinals to the Lady Wildcats.
“We knew it may come down to the last match and it did. But we played well overall as a group and we couldn’t be more proud of their effort,” Woodworth said. “Obviously we’re disappointed because you always want to win but the girls have nothing to hang their heads about.”
If nothing else the close loss could send a message to Class 3A that North Hall, which losses only Christen Barnes, will continue to be a force at the state level. Because of the early playoff matchup of powerhouses, it is the first time since 2013 that the Lady Trojans will not be among the Elite 8.
“It may seem because we didn’t get past the second round that we took a step back. But if we win that last set we have a good chance to get back to the semifinals again. It was that close,” Woodworth said.
The two teams split the doubles with North Hall getting a win at No. 2 singles from Christen Barnes (6-1, 6-0) and Westminster taking a win at No. 1 singles as Anna Montgomery fell 7-6 (7-0), 6-0 to McKenzi Stewart.
It came down to North Hall’s Sydney Patterson and the Lady Wildcats’ Sophie Mueller, who was in the lineup only because their usual No. 1 singles player was not available, and was making her first playoff start.
It was a three-hour rollercoaster.
Mueller jumped out to quick 4-1 lead in the opening set but Patterson fought back to tie it at 4-4 before Mueller won the next two games to take the first set 6-4. Patterson answered in the second set racing out to a 4-1 lead and eventually sent it to a third set by winning the final two games and the set 6-4.
Mueller and Patterson would trade service-breaks to open the third set but Mueller won the final five games to claim the match and the victory for Westminster.
“Sydney played outstanding and gave us a chance,” Woodworth said. “That was a quality match and she wasn’t able to get some breaks in the final set.”
The Lady Trojans should be in solid position for 2019.
“This was a young team and I thought they got some great experience. We should be even better next year,” Woodworth said.
