GIRLS TENNIS LOSES HEARTBREAKER TO GRAY COLLEGIATE

[Photo caption: Mae Keegan, a senior who played who final match on Tuesday, swings through a backhand.]

Far and away the best teams in the 5A Lower State bracket, top-seeded Wando and second-seeded Gray Collegiate battled for nearly four hours on Tuesday in an epic contest to decide who would advance to the state championship.

When the dust settled, Gray Collegiate, with its mostly tall lineup of talented upperclassmen, edged the young Wando team 4-3 to end the Warriors’ 18-match winning streak and hopes for a third straight title.

“It’s tough when a season ends this abruptly,” Wando coach Bob Lang said after a tear-filled post-match huddle. “I couldn’t be more proud of the girls. They played their hearts out. You have to credit Gray. That’s a very good team.”

The War Eagles (13-2), who will face either Mauldin or Chapin on Saturday in Cayce for the state championship, rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Wando, winning at #1, #3 and #4 singles to force a tiebreaking doubles match.

With dozens of players, parents and fans looking on, Wando’s 8th-grade duo of Cyanna Enright and Kinsley Matthews took Court 1 under the lights against Gray’s imposing-looking doubles team of Morgan Horlback and Alisa Petushko.

Horlback, a hard-hitting junior righthander who rarely misses, is one of the state’s top players. Petushko, a sophomore, isn’t as consistent but possesses a strong serve and can rip winners.

Horlback and Petushko jumped out to a 3-0 lead and seemed to be on their way to an easy victory. But Enright and Kinsley used their quickness and craftiness to mount a comeback, closing to within 4-3.

The Gray team answered to win the next two games and the set. In the second, Wando kept it close as their teammates cheered from the stands while waving pom poms and stomping their feet.

Trailing 5-4, Wando couldn’t break Petushko’s serve. When the last point ended, Gray players ran onto the court to celebrate.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Warriors, who came tantalizingly close to another title despite playing shorthanded throughout its playoff run. The team’s injured #1 player, junior Ellie Frank, could only watch from the stands as Wando saw its early 3-0 lead evaporate.

Wando took the lead after victories by Matthews at #2 singles, Mary Alice Collins at #5 singles and Mae Keegan/Brigitta Ohannesian at #2 doubles.

Then came Gray’s comeback. It started when Horlback completed her victory over Enright at #1 singles. Then Petushko beat Tucker Adams at #3 singles, winning a tiebreaker for the second set.

All eyes then turned to Court 4 where Caroline Greene was locked in an epic battle with fellow freshman Cecily Lokodi of Gray. Greene rallied to take the second set and force a deciding tiebreaker. But Lokodi was too tough down the stretch, winning five of the first six points enroute to a 10-3 victory.

Wando finished the season 18-3. This is the first year that the Warriors won’t be playing in the state championship since 2023.

“This was a great season,” Lang said. “Our girls have no reason to hang their heads. We ran into a really good team that was better than us on this night. We’ll get them next time.”

With six of seven starters poised to return next season, Wando’s future is bright.

GO WANDO!

******

GRAY COLLEGIATE 4, WANDO 3

Singles: Morgan Horlback (G) def. Cyanna Enright 6-0, 6-1; Kinsley Matthews (W) def. Kate Snyder 6-1, 6-1; Alisa Petushko (G) def. Tucker Adams 6-2, 7-6 (4); Cecily Lokodi (G) def. Caroline Greene 6-1, 4-6, 10-3; Mary Alice Collins (W) def. Anna Boone 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles: Horlback/Petushko (G) def. Enright/Matthews 6-3, 6-4; Mae Keegan/Brigitta Ohannesian (W) def. Stella Malcom/Zoey Washington 6-1, 6-1.

Records: Gray Collegiate 14-2; Wando 18-3.

Next: Gray Collegiate wins the 5A Lower State Championship and will face either Chapin or Mauldin from the Upper State on Saturday at noon in Cayce to decide the state championship; Wando saw its 18-match winning streak and bid for its third straight state title come to an end in the loss to Gray.