Warriors' Sutton crowned 3A east regional singles champion

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 26, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

WILSON -- Elizabeth Sutton thought to herself 'just hit one more ball.'

She'll undoubtedly never forget her last shot.

Down love-40 and serving to stay in the match, top-seeded Carmen Jordan of Topsail chased down a short ball by Eastern Wayne's Elizabeth Sutton. Jordan attempted a drop shot that fell onto the left side of Sutton's court.

Sutton stuck out her racquet and delivered one-handed backhand return. The ball snuck back over the net and out of Jordan's reach.

Game.

Set.

Match.

Sutton's family shouted their approval and it finally sunk in that Sutton had emerged as the 2015 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A eastern regional singles champion with a 6-3, 6-4 conquest of Jordan.

"I didn't think it was going over," Sutton said. "I was just trying to get it back (over) and I said 'if I don't, it's OK.' When I got it back (over), I was kind of in shock. My whole family started yelling and I didn't really realize for a couple of seconds that I had just one won."

And she continued a family tradition.

Sutton's cousin, Faith, won a N.C. independent Schools Athletic Association individual state singles title in 2010 when she played for Wayne Christian. During her senior campaign at Eastern Wayne, Faith and cousin, Savannah, won the eastern regional doubles title.

Sutton, seeded No. 2 in the 16-player draw, spent three days hitting against quality opposition at Walnut Creek Country Club. She managed to see several styles of play and sharpened her skills by hitting a variety of shots from the baseline and at the net.

Those workouts proved fruitful.

But it was Sutton's mentality that made the difference.

She used the "make it to the next match" scenario as regional play opened Friday afternoon at Barton College. Sutton logged back-to-back, straight-set shutout decisions over Corinth-Holders' Ashley Stufano and Wilson Fike's Elery Williams.

"I didn't really know how those girls would hit (at regionals)," Sutton said. "You never know what you're going to get. There's girls in our conference who are just backboards, and there's girls that hit the ball really hard and you have to be ready against those girls."

Sutton faced Topsai's Caroline Harris in the semifinals and took the opening set 6-0. Harris regained her composure in the second set and eventually ended Sutton's shutout string at five sets. However, Sutton adjusted well to Harris' topspin shots and won 6-3.

That match prepared Sutton for Jordan in the final.

Another topspin hitter, Jordan consistently worked Sutton around the court. The east's top two players traded points punctuated by long rallies and the anticipation grew when they returned to the court with Sutton ahead 5-4 in the second set.

Sutton grabbed a 40-love lead and held three championship points.

She needed just one to secure the regional title.

"She was extremely good," Sutton said of Jordan. "It was a tough match. My first goal was to win my first two matches so I could go to states. And then, when I made it to day two, I was like 'OK, let's try to win the semis.'

"And when I won the semis, I said 'let's just play good in the finals and if I win, I win. If not, I still made it (to states)'."

On a shot she'll never forget.