The Newton County Academy tennis teams swept both boys and girls South State titles last week as the host school at East Central Community College.
The NCA girls won two individual events, sweeping both girls doubles events and edging out Brookhaven by half a point to win the Class AA South State title.
“There were so many big wins today,” NCA tennis coach Pete Mazzella said. “Luke and Ethan avenging their district loss, Tori coming up huge in the semifinals to secure her spot in the final four at State, both girls’ doubles teams and 2 boys teams taking care of business, and Tripp putting a perfect ending to the day with a three-set victory in the 1 singles finals.”
On the boys’ side, NCA won the South AA title by 2 1/2 points as both boys’ doubles spots and won the No. 1 boys singles spot.
In all, NCA advanced seven of the nine spots for the Class AA state tournament which will be held on Wednesday in Ridgeland.
“This was a big day for us. Losing 7 out of 14 starters, I feel like this team played like they had something to prove,” Mazzella said. “Out of the nine events, we only had 2 not qualify for state but both those events fought hard in close matches. I know Kelli and Eli and Ashley will come back strong next year. One thing that I am most proud of, is the fact that this is the first girls’ tennis team at NCA to win South State, even with the two team State titles.”
NCA boys
In No. 1 boys’ singles, Tripp Blasingame came home with a trophy-clinching win for the Generals. Blasingame beat Franklin 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals and then beat Brookhaven 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the final to finish off the day for the Generals.
In No. 2 boys’ singles, Newton’s Patrick Williams lost 6-3, 6-3 to Brookhaven in the finals and will advance to the state tournament as the No. 2 seed from the South.
In No. 1 boys’ doubles, Ethan McDill and Luke Alexander also brought home the title. After a first-round bye, McDill and Alexander beat rival Sylva Bay 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals and then took a 7-5, 6-2 win over Brookhaven in the finals.
In No. 2 boys’ doubles, Newton’s Jordan Mason and Micah Douglas took home the championship. After receiving a first-round bye, Mason and Douglas beat Sylva Bay 6-2, 6-2 in the finals to win the title.
In mixed doubles, NCA won their first-round match, beating Prairie View 6-0, 6-0 before losing to Brookhaven 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals.
NCA girls
In No. 1 girls’ doubles, NCA’s Anna Moore and Holmes CC signee Kayla Douglas had to win three matches to win the title. Moore and Douglas started off the day with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Prairie View and then beat Franklin 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals. They finished off the day with a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 win over Brookhaven in the finals.
In No. 2 girls’ doubles, NCA’s Piper Rose and Marla Graham defended their South 2A title. After a first-round bye, Newton easily handled Brookhaven 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals and then beat Sylva Bay 6-2, 6-1 in the finals.
In No. 1 girls’ singles, NCA’s Tori Evans lost in the finals. Evans beat Centreville 6-1, 6-0 in the opening round and then beat Brookhaven 7-6, 6-2 in the semifinals. Evans fell in the finals to Glenbrook, 6-0, 6-0. Evans advances to the state tournament as the No. 2 seed.
In No. 2 girls’ singles, NCA’s Ashley Barrett lost in the first round, falling to River Oaks 5-7, 6-3, 10-5.
