GIRLS TENNIS: Clarkston captures fourth straight regional
Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield also
advance out of state’s deepest regional
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BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Less than a week after finishing second at the OAA Red Division Tournament, Clarkston got a chance at redemption and seized it.
The Division 1 third-ranked Wolves edged fourth-ranked Bloomfield Hills — the same school that defeated Clarkston at the league tournament six days prior — by a point to earn the regional crown Friday at Rochester High School.
Clarkston collected 27 points, just ahead of Bloomfield Hills’ 26 points in the 11-school field. West Bloomfield was third with 19 points, followed by Rochester Stoney Creek (14), Rochester Adams (10), Rochester (7), Lake Orion (4), Oxford (2), Waterford Kettering (1), Waterford Mott (1) and Southfield Lathrup (1).
The top two teams, any additional team scoring 18 or more points, and all finalists at No. 1 singles advance to the Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals May 30-31 at Midland Community Tennis Center. Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills and West Bloomfield all advanced out of one of the state’s deepest regionals regardless of division.
“This is more important, qualifying (for the state finals),” said Clarkston coach Becky Freeman, whose team captured its fourth straight regional crown. “(We played) much better here than we did the league meet. Even though we were second at the league, we still got (at least a share) because we were first in duals. But getting to the state tournament is the most important right now. Our goal is to contend for the state championship.”
For Clarkston, it marked the 11th straight season the Wolves have advanced to the Division 1 state finals. They did so by sending representatives into the finals of seven of the eight flights, capturing four titles with three runners-up on the day.
Ace Baylis: Clarkston’s Lexi Baylis and the Wolves captured their fourth straight regional crown to advance to the state finals for the 11th straight season.
“We have played really well at the regional the past few years,” said Freeman, whose team is eying a top-three finish at the state finals, where the Wolves own four straight top-10 finishes.
Clarkston swept the singles titles at the regional.
Senior No. 1 singles standout Lexi Baylis toppled Mollie Fox of Bloomfield Hills, 6-0, 6-4 to get the ball rolling. Isabella Spindler swept Bloomfield Hills’ Kerry Hu 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 singles, Dana Olsen prevailed at No. 3 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 sweep of West Bloomfield’s Katrin Gurvich, while twin sister Paige Olsen downed Meryl Reams of Bloomfield Hills in the finals at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-2.
In the doubles flights, Bloomfield Hills captured three flights while West Bloomfield won the other flight.
West Bloomfield’s duo of Gillian Meyers and Sara Cahn prevailed over Bloomfield Hills’ Erin Weingarten and Maddie Fox in the No.1 doubles finals by rallying in three sets, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
At No. 2 doubles, it was Brittany Silverman and Charlotte Garrison of Bloomfield Hills that posted a 6-0, 6-3 sweep of Clarkston’s Caitlin McCaghy and Mackenzie Sowers, while Bloomfield Hills’ Natalie Langnas and Rheanna Henney prevailed over Clarkston’s Amy Brozovich and Becca Gorz in the finals at No. 3 doubles, 6-0, 6-3.
At No. 4 doubles, Bloomfield Hills recorded its third doubles flight champion when the tandem of Marie Baenen and Ester Yi posted a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Clarkston’s Riley Budzinski and Olivia Baylis.
With a deep, experienced lineup with many seniors, Clarkston hopes to join top-ranked Grosse Pointe South, Midland Dow and Bloomfield Hills in the hunt for the state title at the end of the month in Midland.
Clarkston was the state champion in 2011 and state runner-up in 2012 before finishing third last season. Since the fall 2003 season, the Wolves have posted eight top-10 finishes, five top-five finishes and three top-three finishes at the state tournament. Prior to 2003, Clarkston had not advanced to the state finals since the early 1980s.
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL
(May 16 at Rochester H.S.)
TEAM SCORES — 1. Clarkston, 27; 2. Bloomfield Hills, 26; 3. West Bloomfield, 19; 4. Rochester Stoney Creek, 14; 5. Rochester Adams, 10; 6. Rochester, 7; 7. Lake Orion, 4; 8. Oxford, 2; 9. (tie) Waterford Kettering, 1; Waterford Mott, 1; Southfield-Lathrup, 1.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHTS
SINGLES — 1. Lexi Baylis (Clarkston) d. Mollie Fox (Bloomfield Hills) 6-0, 6-4; 2. Isabella Spindler (Clarkston) d. Kerry Hu (Bloomfield Hills) 6-4, 6-4; 3. Dana Olsen (Clarkston) d. Katrin Gurvich (West Bloomfield) 6-1, 6-0; 4. Paige Olsen (Clarkston) d. Meryl Reams (Bloomfield Hills) 6-2, 6-2.
DOUBLES — 1. Gillian Meyers-Sara Cahn (West Bloomfield) d. Erin Weingarten-Maddie Fox (Bloomfield Hills) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3; 2. Brittany Silverman-Charlotte Garrison (Bloomfield Hills) d. Caitlin McCaghy-Mackenzie Sowers (Clarkston) 6-0, 6-3; 3. Natalie Langnas-Rheanna Henney (Bloomfield Hills) d. Amy Brozovich-Becca Gorz (Clarkston) 6-0, 6-3; 4. Marie Baenen-Ester Yi (Bloomfield Hills) d. Riley Budzinski-Olivia Baylis (Clarkston) 6-0, 7-5.
(The top two teams, any additional team scoring 18 or more points and all finalists at No. 1 singles advance to the Lower Peninsula Division 2 state finals May 30-31 at Midland Community Tennis Center.)
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