By Thomas Grant Jr.
Both girls teams for Gray Collegiate Academy tennis and River Bluff volleyball had high hopes of claiming their respective first-ever state titles.
Each led their state championship matches which ended up going the distance.
In the end, both teams ended up finishing runners-up by the closest of margins.
The day started with Gray Collegiate facing A.C. Flora for the Class 4A title at the Cayce Tennis Center. This was the Lady War Eagles’ first-ever appearance, while the Lady Falcons were seeking their third title.
Gray Collegiate won three of the five singles’ matches. Among the winners was number-one player Morgan Horlback.
Prior to the match, A.C. Flora questioned the Blythewood transfer’s eligibility and playing order status.
Based on rule 16-F in the S.C. High School League handbook, an opposing coach who questions the order of the challenge lineup can request the challenging order.
After sitting the required 30 days following the transfer, Horlback went on to win the required challenge matches to determine her playing order.
Gray Collegiate Academy head coach Madison Conwell was ready to confirm Horlback’s status if A.C. Flora went through with a protest. It became a moot point as the Lady Falcons swept the two doubles matches to win the title 4-3.
SINGLES
Morgan Horlback (GC) def. Emily Smith, 6-2, 7-6
Catherine Smith (ACF) def. Kate Snyder, 6-3, 3-6, 10-4
Alisa Petushko (GC) def. Carlyn Gufee, 6-3, 6-2
Cicily Lokodi (GC) def. Ruby Cecchini, 6-0, 6-1
Liza Starvou (ACF) def. Sidney Moore, 6-4, 6-0.
DOUBLES
Ella Foley/Stokely Haile def. Stella Malcolm/Mary Catherine Gabrielli, 6-3, 6-4.
Emily/ Catherine Smith (ACF) def. Morgan Horlback/Kate Snyder, 6-4, 6-3
VOLLEYBALL FINAL
Over at Dreher High School, River Bluff was making its second state title appearance. Once again, it was 2-time defending Class 5A Division I champion Dorman standing in its way.
After losing the first set 25-23, River Bluff won the next two sets 25-23 and 25-13. The Lady Gators fell behind six points in the fourth set before getting within two and holding off three set points.
Dorman managed to get a kill to close out the fourth set by a 25-22 score. In the deciding set, River Bluff scored four straight points to take a 6-3 lead.
The Lady Cavaliers stayed close and put themselves in position to play for match point up 14-12. River Bluff picked up a point following a timeout, but was unable to stop a kill shot by Dorman’s Maggie Helle to win the match 15-13.
“We have been resilient all year,” River Bluff head coach Bryan Piro said. “I’m so proud of our seniors. We just battled. We are a player-led team. I hate it for them. I hurt for them. But they laid everything out there. Dorman is a good team. … 15-13 in a fifth set. I don’t know much better you can do. It was a heck of a match.”
The Lady Gators finished the season with a 32-13 record.
(Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.)
