Undefeated Greenville derails Hilton Head’s state championship bid
The Hilton Head girls tennis team came one step closer to a state championship, this time at the 4A level.
The Seahawks, who claimed state championships at the 3A level from 2007-2012, closed out a 16-7 season at the Cayce Tennis Center Saturday, falling to undefeated Greenville 6-0 in the state title match.
“It’s been an awesome season,” Hilton Head coach Jennifer Weitekamper said. “This is a team with a lot of heart, a lot of grinding, ‘we’re gonna do it,’ ‘we’re gonna fight,’ and other team factors.
It’s been a positive season.”
Holly Kerr, at No.2 singles, took her match with Emma McFall into a tiebreaker set after winning the first set 6-3 and dropping the second set 6-2. McFall won the third set 13-11.
At No.5 singles, Sydney Hall took the first set 6-4, but Westly Cannon took the second set 6-3and claimed the win with a 10-7 win in the tiebreaker.
The long range goal
“With the girls, making it this far after not getting here for several years, the goal is to get here,” Weitekamper said. “We won six (state titles) in a row, but we’re back here now and second in the state is nothing to scoff at. We lost to an undefeated team this season. You’ve gotta give Greenville Credit.”
Sarah Wood, the team’s No.1 player, fell 6-0, 6-1 to Greenville’s Layton Powell. Wood finished her career at Hilton Head with high acclaim, making the North-South All-Star team, the all-region team and qualifying for the individual tournament.
“This was her 105th match,” Weitekamper said. “The other seniors have all had over 80 games this season.”
Those seniors led the Seahawks to their 11 th region title. Three seniors leave the team, Wood, Kerr and doubles player Nicole Diaz. Kerr and Diaz also made the all-region team.
Weitekamper said she’s proud of how the girls made the most of this season and looks forward to next year.
“Every year is different,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of younger players returning. You don’t know how it’s going to go. Every year is different. That’s what makes it fun.”
Title match results
Singles
1. Layton Powell (Greenville) def. Sarah Wood 6-0, 6-1
2. Emma McFall (Greenville) def. Holly Kerr 3-6, 6-2 (13-11)
3. Julia Price (Greenville) def. Ariella Stepleman 7-5, 6-1
4. Gracie Walls (Greenville) def. Henry Clare Cram 6-2, 6-2
5. Westly Cannon (Greenville) def. Sydney Hall 4-6, 6-3 (10-7)
Doubles
1. Not played
2. Sophie Young-Kate Kellar (Greenville) def. Nicole Diaz-Isabel Muehlemann 7-5, 6-3
This story was originally published November 12, 2016 at 11:26 PM with the headline "Undefeated Greenville derails Hilton Head’s state championship bid."