Raleigh Charter knocks out Spring Creek

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 2, 2011 1:48 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- The casual observer who glances at the final result between Raleigh Charter and Spring Creek might think the victory had an easy, relaxing afternoon on the tennis court.

That's not quite true.

The Phoenix needed two third-set tiebreakers to turn back the Gators, 6-0, in semifinal-round play of the 2011 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A women's dual-team playoffs Tuesday afternoon.

"Raleigh Charter did not breathe a sight of relief until they knew there was no way we could win (No. 5 singles)," said Spring Creek head coach Beverly Boltinhouse.

Indeed.

Long rallies punctuated several points on each singles court throughout the 90-minute affair. Deuce and ad points were needed to decide some games, and on occasion either the first or second set.

The Phoenix earned third-set super tiebreakers at Nos. 1 and five singles. Senior Shannon Powers edged Spring Creek junior Emily Daniel 6-4, 4-6, 10-5. Teammate Becca Lampe recovered from a opening-set loss to defeat senior Jordan Cook 1-6, 6-4, 10-5.

Raleigh Charter claimed straight-set decisions on the remaining courts. Second-seeded Kaeli Beaver erased a 5-4 second-set deficit to beat senior Heather Frey 6-3, 7-5.

"Even with Katlyn (Casey) and Colleen (Finlay), if you watched them, you would not have thought it was 6-3, 6-1 for either one because they were going past deuce in nearly every single game," said Boltinhouse. "(The girls) didn't give in, even when they were down. We just came up on the short end."

The Gators' Finlay and Brittany Carmack, who was the team's lone four-year starter, also played their final match.

Spring Creek concluded the year 10-2 overall and reached the eastern semifinals for the first time since 2003 when then-head coach Robert Jones led the team to a state runner-up finish.

"We really did have a great year," said Boltinhouse. "I'm very proud of them, glad I got to coach them. I'm very excited that we got this far."