MORGANTOWN — Area tennis teams are gaining confidence heading into the state tournament on Thursday in Charleston.
The Morgantown boys and University girls are riding high coming off OVAC and regional victories, while the Morgantown girls are hitting their stride at the right time of the season.
The University girls team qualified three singles players, as well as three doubles teams to the state tournament, which will be held at the Kanawha City Community Center beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, with competition continuing throughout the day, as well as on Friday and Saturday.
All six varsity players, and all seven positions, are heading to state for the Morgantown boys and the MHS girls have five girls — three singles and two doubles teams.
For the Hawks, Lyla Byers qualified at No. 1 singles, Deah Gharib at No. 2 and Emma Rusiecki at No. 3.
“Lyla has a bit of a tough draw but has the talent to go all the way,” UHS head coach Gary Barcinas said. “Deah has immense talent and can win it all and Emma is undefeated in regional play and will make a lot of noise. All the girls have a good chance to have a good showing at states.”
Byers and Gharib also team up for No. 1 doubles. The other doubles teams are Rusiecki and Brooklyn Rutledge at No. 2 and Sydney Takacs and Emma Daffner at No. 3.
“Our doubles teams are very formidable,” Barcinas said.
The OVAC championship was the first for the Hawks since 2012. Barcinas said they had a “landslide” victory at last week’s regional tournament.
“Our girls put in countless hours of training and the results show it,” Barcinas said.
The MHS boys are coming off a fantastic performance in their postseason meets. Max Phillips-Hartley won both the OVAC and regional championships at No. 1 singles. Bennett Hall and Wyatt Abbitt also won both competitions at No. 2 and No. 4 singles, respectively.
“They’re looking great,” Morgantown boys head coach Sabrina Hall said. “They’re really excited and not completely satisfied after their performance last year. Their goal is to work hard down at states.”
Last year, all seven positions also qualified for states. Coach Hall said that is not very common.
“The ability to do it again is just the cherry on top,” Hall said.
Things are equally savory for Phillips-Hartley and Hall. They’ve been playing together for seven years and not only succeeding at their respective singles positions, but they add an extra dynamic as a dominant doubles team.
“It’s especially sweet to see it come together for them,” coach Hall said. “Them working together is really special and I can’t what to see what they can do this week.”
Abbitt is fairly new to tennis, having just started playing competitively in the past two years. He’s a fast learner and performs well playing on the baseline.
“He’s very athletic and found a style of play that works for him,” Hall said.
Abbitt makes up the No. 3 doubles team with Steven Tian.
For the MHS girls, Amy Lu qualified for states at No. 1 singles, Sam Carver qualified at No. 2 and Maddie Carver qualified at No. 4.
“Amy got a pretty good draw at No. 1,” Mohigans head coach Ted Greenlee said. “The best region seems to be Region 4, so it just depends on when we play them. We’ll get a few points throughout the weekend. We’re all aware of the tough competition and they’re ready to show up and play.”
Lu and Sam Carver make up the No. 1 doubles team and Grace Forman and Maddie Carver are hitting the court at No. 2 doubles.
“They’ve all been resting this week and taking some private lessons,” Greenlee said. “They’re playing well at the right time.”
While the University boys’ team did not have any state qualifiers, head coach Tom McClellan said he was pleased with the progress in a rebuilding year. After graduating four seniors last year, the top Hawks players were underclassmen this year.
McClellan’s son, Andrew, was their No. 1 singles player and is poised for a breakout season in 2023.
“This was the deepest field of players I’ve seen in my six years as a coach,” Tom McClellan said. “It’ll be a great competition at the state tournament. I think we’ll improve and make some more progress to get back there next year.”
By MATTHEW PEASLEE
TWEET @DomPostSports
