The Manchester Academy girls’ tennis team won the MAIS AAA North State tennis championship on Tuesday in Greenville and the Maverick boys’ team finished fourth at the one-day tournament.
The Maverick girls won with 7 points, with runner-up St. Aloysius 6, while Greenville St. Joe dominated the boys’ side with 12 points with the Maverick boys with 2 points.
“It was an outstanding day for Manchester tennis,” commented Maverick coach Debbie Crisler. “Four of our five teams qualified for the state tournament and the Maverick girls won the North State championship for the fourth time in the last six years. I am really proud of their effort and look forward to them all fighting for a state championship next Wednesday in Vicksburg.”
Nettie Taylor Barbour and Margaret Dent led the Mavericks winning the #1 girls’ doubles championship by defeating Grace Gober and Elizabeth Taylor of Kirk Academy in the semi-finals 6-4, 6-3 and Haley Barker and Abby Ames of Heritage Academy in the finals 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Dent and Barbour, both seniors, struggled at times during the season, but seem to be peaking at the right time.
“We’ve finally found our groove. We’re ready. There’s no more school for us, so we’re going to be hitting the courts every day,” commented Margaret Dent. ”Mrs. Debbie is not only the best coach, but literally the most encouraging person and I’ve loved having her as my coach for six years.”
Elizabeth Turner and Mary Sibley McGraw easily defeated Sarah Morgan Pelham and Lily Holliday of Starkville Academy 6-0, 6-2 in the #2 girls’ doubles semi-finals, but lost 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 in a barn-burner of a match in the finals to Ashley Jarratt and Taylor Chewning of St. Al.
When asked about their rivalry with the talented duo from St. Al, McGraw said, “They’re really good and helpful to us. We make each other better.” The Mavs defeated their St. Al rivals at conference but lost to them at North State and could face them for a state championship next week. McGraw commented, “Our goal is to win!” Turner added, “I want to win state and we’re going to prepare. The team win at North State was very exciting, especially the way Sib played at the net and went after every ball and made amazing shots.”
Maverick Josie Coker qualified for the state tournament for the first time with an outstanding effort facing all three #1 seeds in three long matches at #2 girls’ singles. Coker started the day by defeating Stella Nichols of Heritage Academy 6-3, 6-0 with one of her best performances of the season and then beat Margaret Taylor of Kirk Academy 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in a marathon match. Coker faced conference rival Elise Piazza of St. Al in the finals and the girls had yet another splendid match. With the match tied 6-6 in the first set, Piazza outlasted Coker to narrowly win the first set in a tie-breaker. While this was Coker’s third match of the day, it was only Piazza’s second match and her first was a blow-out, so Coker understandably ran out of steam in the second set and lost to Piazza 7-6, 6-1.
Matt Carroll, a ninth grader, also qualified for the state tournament by winning the runner-up trophy for #2 boys’ singles. Carroll easily dispatched Parker McNeer of Bayou Academy 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-finals and faced reigning state champion and Delta State tennis signee Tyler Sartucci of St. Joe in the finals. Sartucci proved too much for Carroll defeating him 6-0, 6-1, but Carroll impressed many at the North State tournament with his ball striking and incredible court coverage.
Maverick Upton Hitt, yet another ninth grade talent, represented the school well in #1 boys’ singles and played soundly despite losing a tough match to Braxton Bane of Winston Academy 6-3, 6-1.
The Maverick tennis team has developed a strong reputation across the state and will travel to Vicksburg next Wednesday for the state tournament. The Mav girls - Margaret Dent, Nettie Taylor Barbour, Elizabeth Turner, Mary Sibley McGraw and Josie Coker - will seek Manchester’s third state girls’ tennis championship in the last six years, while Matt Carroll will represent the boys’ team.
