Batts, Sodoma fall one win short of state doubles title

By Steve Roush
Published in Sports on October 29, 2006 2:02 AM

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BURLINGTON -- The Charles B. Aycock girls tennis program is recognized as among the state's elite. On Saturday, seniors Raychel Batts and Lizzie Sodoma added another chapter to the success story.

Batts and Sodoma became the first players in school history to advance to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state individual finals. After a grueling three-set victory in the semis, they saw their dreams of a state doubles title come up one win short as they lost 6-4, 6-1 to Hickory's Stephani Synn and Stephanie Teague in the state 3-A women's tennis championships on Saturday afternoon at the Burlington Tennis Center.

"I'm so proud of Raychel and Lizzie," Aycock coach Luke Vail said. "Their morning match started at 11 a.m. and didn't finish until 1:30 p.m. Then they turned around and played in the finals at 2:30, and that one didn't finish until around 4 p.m. They played hard all day and did well in the first set, but they played an exceptional team and they wore us down in the second set."

Batts and Sodoma had won a long three-set match in their morning semifinal to advance, defeating Lourdes Ros and Katie Cox of Western Guilford 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

"We were the only representatives from the East left," Vail said. "I know they wanted to win it all, but it was good to make it that far -- after all, they're the first individuals to play in the state finals in school history."

The matches were delayed in starting on Saturday due to rain and wet courts after being forced to indoor courts on Friday.

Hickory ended up sweeping both the singles and doubles crowns in the 3-A women's tennis championships as Emily Mauser completed a great high school career in which she advanced to the state championship match four consecutive times by winning her first state title after three runner-up finishes.

Mauser defeated defending champion Cameron Chatman of Jamestown Ragsdale 6-4, 6-1, in the final. Chatman had beaten Mauser 7-5 and 6-0 in last year's 3-A singles final.

Batts, Sodoma and the Lady Falcons will be back on the courts on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. as Charles B. Aycock takes on Eastern Wayne in the team state quarterfinals at Mount Olive College.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC

ASSOCIATION

2006 STATE 3-A WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Burlington Tennis Center

Saturday's Results

Singles Semifinals

Cameron Chatman (Jamestown Ragsdale) def. Lauren Sessoms (Belmont South Point) 6-0, 6-2; Emily Mauser (Hickory) def. Catherine Wood (Jamestown Ragsdale) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Singles Championship

Mauser (Hickory) def. Chatman (Ragsdale) 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles Semifinals

Raychel Batts-Lizzie Sodoma (Charles B. Aycock) def. Lourdes Ros-Katie Cox (Western Guilford) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5; Stephani Synn-Stephanie Teague (Hickory) def. Mya Blue Stauffer-McDowell--Erin Williams (Asheville T.C. Roberson) 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles Championship

Synn-Teague (Hickory) def. Batts-Sodoma (C.B. Aycock) 6-4, 6-1.