By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Savannah girls' tennis team continues its postseason journey on Friday with individual sectionals at the Noyes Tennis Courts in St. Joseph.
Savannah junior Iris Alvarez faces Lafayette County’s Madison Cunningham in singles, while Savannah senior Krynna Rudel and junior Maddie Till face Avery Evans and Holly Huston from Marshall in doubles.
The Savages are fresh off of a 5-2, team district title victory over Lafayette on Wednesday in a match played at Savannah.
Fifth-year head coach Kelly Jones says it feels good to win districts after finishing second in 2018, 19 and 21.
"It was very exciting," Jones said. "In my five years here, we've had a lot of second places. So, first place has been really nice. The girls are excited and getting after it and are going to get there Monday, too."
Alvarez is a two-time MEC champion in singles and is competing in sectionals for a second straight year. She says this year, so far, has been more rewarding for her and the whole team.
"We added a team district championship which we had not gotten in awhile," Alvarez said. "That really lifts the spirits of the whole team and myself, because if I can make it (to state) individually and in team, I would really be so happy."
Savannah plays Lafayette County in team sectionals on Monday morning at 10 in Chillicothe.
State tennis for individuals is October 14 and 15, while team state is Oct. 21-22. Both events are in Springfield. Savannah hasn't been to the Final Four in girls' tennis as a team since 1994.
The Savages haven't had an individual state champion in girls' tennis since Shannon Kropuenske and Jaime O'Brien took first in doubles back in 1993.
"They have a really good shot to make it to state," Jones said of her 2022 bunch. "They've been working hard all season. So, if we can stay healthy and compete on Friday, it'll be a good day."
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