Misty weather suspends Carolina 1-A tennis tournament

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 10, 2012 1:48 PM

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The Carolina 1-A Conference women's tennis singles title, the tournament champion and the final regional-qualifying berth, thanks to Mother Nature, will be decided today.

A heavy mist rendered court conditions unplayable and forced suspension of the day's final two matches at Herman Park late Tuesday evening.

Spring Creek senior Emily Daniel and North Duplin freshman Julisa Quintanilla resumed their singles championship match earlier this afternoon at Southern Wayne. The two were tied at 3-3 in the opening set when Quintanilla suffered an injury after sliding into the net on a short volley.

The Gators' Anna Haggerty held a slim 4-3 advantage over the Rebels' Jasmin Quintanilla in the third-place match. The winner, along with Daniel and Julisa Quintanilla, advance to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A eastern regional Oct. 19 at Herman Park.

Three doubles berths were decided.

Ayden-Grifton's top-seeded tandem of Cindy Avalos-Arianna Savoie claimed the conference crown with a 6-3, 7-5 decision over Goldsboro's Randa Boykin-Cayce Hoggard.

"I hated it for them," Goldsboro head coach Susan Randolph said. "Cayce's back was giving her a fit and we stretched it out a couple of times. But when you have that kind of pain in your back, it's really hard to follow through on your shots.

"Ayden-Grifton's first doubles team is tough and Savoie is an excellent net player."

The Cougars' duo of Mackenzie Malham-Davis Houtzer seized a regional berth with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Ayden-Grifton's Diane Garcia-Eva Mewborn in the third-place match.

"I'm thrilled to have two doubles teams in the regionals," Randolph said.

Depending on today's outcomes, four teams -- Goldsboro, Spring Creek, North Duplin and Ayden-Grifton -- could all share the tournament title. The Cougars, the regular-season champions, and Ayden-Grifton concluded play with five points apiece.

If either the Rebels or Gators sweep play today, they'll be assured of the outright tournament crown. A split will create a four-way deadlock.