MIDLAND — Traverse City West won three matches in its first state finals berth in program history Wednesday.
“Our team played hard and had an incredible first experience at states,” Titans first-year head coach Cassie Krauss said. “We had three first round wins and several flights falling short in close losses. They played well and I couldn’t be prouder of them and how they finished their season. This group of girls and this historic season will be something that the players and coaches will cherish forever.”
Sophomore Sloane Barclay won a match at No. 1 singles, defeating Mason’s Payton Smoker 3-6, 7-6, 11-6 in the opening round before a 6-1, 6-1 setback against Grosse Pointe South’s Katelyn Strong.
Titans senior Katelyn Popp won a No. 4 singles match 6-1, 6-0 over Wyandotte Roosevelt’s Julia Kortes before a 6-1, 6-1 loss to No. 1-seeded Sabrina Dunn of Birmingham Seaholm. Dunn didn’t drop a single point in her next match of the day.
West’s No. 1 doubles flight of Alex Johncock and Lily Lauters won 6-4, 7-5 against South Lyon East’s Laci Akana and Julia Winter, then lost to No. 2 seed Ani Meghea and Evie Laxton of East Lansing in the second round.
The Division 2 finals, played at the Midland Tennis Center, had Birmingham Seaholm with a commanding lead after the first day of competition, putting up 24 points to 17 each by Grosse Pointe South and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and 16 from Midland Dow and Farmington Hills Mercy.