STATE EXTRA: Gate closed

RADFORD
The door to the Group A tennis championship had a formidable “gate” to get through for Wilson Memorial on Saturday.

But on this day, the Hornets not only opened the gate to see what was on the other side, but slammed it shut before a gritty group of Gate City girls could get through themselves.

Winning all six first sets in singles, the Hornets opened the Group A championship match with a dominant touch.

While Christine Coffield, Amanda Gorby and Kala Guy pulled out their second sets to give Wilson a commanding 3-0 lead, Gate City drew even in their sets at No. 2,3 and 6.

Gate City then evened up the match as Morgan Taylor, Alex Fritz and Taylor Evans won their deciding third sets as well.

The state championship would be determined by the three doubles matches.

“I knew doubles would handle it,” said Wilson coach Marcy Baker. “The girls all complement each other.”

With Gorby and Katie Hock breezing through their match, the Hornets needed either Coffield and Jamie Stark or Hannah Shields and Guy to win their match.

After winning their first set 6-0, Shields and Guy fell behind 2-3 to their opponents.

Meanwhile, on court one, Coffield and Stark lost a tense tiebreaker to Toni Bower and Morgan Taylor, and Coffield took a spill against the fence trying to return a deep shot.

But Shields and Guy rallied, winning their next four games to end the drama.

“Look at the way they finished up,” Baker said. “This match was a train ride, but this is a culmination of years of working with wonderful girls.”

The state championship also closed out the Group A and Shenandoah District phases at Wilson Memorial as the Hornets move up to the Southern Valley District and Group AA next fall.

What a way to close the gate.