XCP tennis title streak comes to an end

It was one of those days when very little seemed to go right.

And in the end, Xavier Prep’s Gators watched their attempt to win a fifth straight Division I tennis title and 93^rd straight match fall by the wayside as Mesa Mountain View got a bit of revenge for its loss to Xavier in the 2015 title match.

Mountain View used superior play by sophomore twins Anya and Madeline Lamoreaux as well as state tournament experience to win 5-2 on Saturday (May 7) at the Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale. Xavier had defeated Mountain View 5-4 in the latter stages of the regular season.

Xavier (18-1) lost its top four singles matches for a 4-2 deficit, leaving the Lamoreauxs as a formidable obstacle in doubles. The odds were not good that the twins would fall, given the fact that they already had combined for two individual doubles titles in 2015 and 2016.

The twins wasted little time in securing the crown with an 8-0 victory.

It was Mountain View’s second state title. The first one came in 2008, and Xavier again was the opponent. Xavier had won 18 titles entering Saturday’s play.

Xavier coach Laurie Martin said Mountain View’s experience was a big difference on Saturday.

“I think they had all but one of their players back from last year,’’ she said. “We only had two players who had played in the state tournament (senior Caroline James and junior Jordan Craft).

“Because of that inexperience, I was not sure we would be able to reach the state title match at the beginning of the season. But the girls worked very hard all year and almost won it. It’s not really a letdown. Look at all they were able to accomplish. This is what makes coaching fun.

“I told the girls (afterward) how proud I am. I think this experience will only help us in the future. We had a great group of kids and parents.’’

The Gators had a tough stretch late in the season where they played three road matches on successive days against Phoenix Arcadia, Mountain View and Scottsdale Desert Mountain.

Xavier’s two individual winners on Saturday were No. 5 Maddy Corley and No. 6 Stephanie Burckhard.

James will be the only player to graduate this spring, leaving the players coming back ready to start a new streak in the spring of 2017.

Saturday’s results

Mesa Mountain View 5, Xavier Prep 2

Singles

Anya Lamoreaux, MV, def. Tristanne Dechoux, X, 6-4, 6-2.

Madeline Lamoreaux, MV, def. Caroline James, X, 6-4, 6-0.

Isabella Cosenza, MV, def. Jordan Craft, X, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0.

McKinzi Godfrey, MV, def. Caroline Armknecht, X, 6-2, 6-3.

Maddy Corley, X, def. Tatum Hiatt, MV, 6-3, 6-2.

Stephanie Burckhard, X, def. Sara Williams, MV, 6-3, 6-0.

Doubles

A Lamoreaux-M Lamoreaux, MV, def. Shelby Daniel-C James, X, 8-0.