Dunwoody’s Ella Thomas (left) and Celia Carter (right) played roles in Dunwoody’s 3-0 Class 7A first-round victory over Cherokee. (Photos by Mark Brock)
Dunwoody picked up a 3-0 win over Cherokee to advance into the Class 7A girls’ state playoffs Sweet 16 round in a first-round match played at Dunwoody High School on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Wildcats (14-4) swept the doubles points to go up 2-0. Mei Stallard and Ginny Duffy got the match off to a quick start with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles to give their team a 1-0 advantage.
The No. 2 doubles team of Hannah Price and Celia Carter upped the advantage to 2-0 with the identical 6-0, 6-1 score to take their match.
The deciding match came at No. 2 singles as Ella Thomas, normally the No.3 singles player, was subbing for a teammate got out to a one-set advantage taking a 6-3 first set victory to set up the second set for a chance to close out the match.
The second set was tied three times, the last at 3-3 before Thomas got a break to go up 4-3 and followed with a service game win to pull within one game victory of sealing the match.
Her Cherokee opponent pulled back within 5-4 with a service game win. Thomas fell behind in her service game and battled back and forth to deuce several times to stay in contention to end the match sealing Dunwoody’s win.
After pulling back to deuce once again, Thomas rallied for two straight points to close out the set 6-4 and seal the win for the Lady Wildcats.
Dunwoody plays host to Camden County, a 4-1 winner over Marietta, in the second round. The time and date will be announced at a later date.
DCSD TENNIS STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
CLASS 3A BOYS FIRST ROUND
Redan at Cherokee Bluff, TBA
Wednesday, 4/20
CLASS 5A BOYS FIRST ROUND
Chamblee (12-8) 4, Calhoun 0
CLASS 7A GIRLS FIRST ROUND
Dunwoody (14-4) 3, Cherokee 0
Thursday, 4/21
CLASS 6A BOYS SECOND ROUND
DEKALB TENNIS CENTER
Wheeler vs. Lakeside (14-2), 4:00 pm
MATCHES TBA
CLASS 5A GIRLS SECOND ROUND
Chamblee (13-6-1) at Woodward Academy, TBA
CLASS 5A BOYS SECOND ROUND
Chamblee (12-8) at Woodward Academy, TBA
CLASS 6A GIRLS SECOND ROUND
Lakeside (10-6) at Pope, TBA
CLASS 7A BOYS SECOND ROUND
North Paulding at Dunwoody (12-3), TBA
CLASS 7A GIRLS SECOND ROUND
Camden County at Dunwoody (14-4), TBA