Doubles, anyone?
Xavier Prep’s badminton team hasn’t had to worry about it in
its first two matches of the Division I state tournament.
Translated, that means that the Gators’ singles players have
been so successful that doubles have not been necessary.
Whether that trend will continue will play itself out on
Thursday night (Oct. 27) when Xavier meets Gilbert Perry for the state
championship at Phoenix Sunnyslope. Start time is 6:30.
Xavier advanced with a 5-1 semifinal victory over Glendale
Mountain Ridge on Wednesday night (Oct. 26) at Phoenix Desert Vista. Perry
earned its title-match trip with a 5-1 win over Mesa Skyline. Perry did not
have to play doubles, either.
Unbeaten Xavier will be attempting to win its fourth title
in a row and 10th overall.
The Gators met Perry on Oct. 4 at Xavier, and came away with
a 6-3 victory.
If anyone has the upper hand in doubles, it might be Xavier.
The Gators can boast the state champions (Tatum Clarke, Annie Kamps) and
consolation winners (Emily Woodrow, Kiana Valentova-Macdonald).
But Perry’s doubles teams certainly should be formidable.
They are state runner-ups Dominique Garcia and Tori Albin and fourth-place
finishers Jillian Lagasca and Katie Cross.
Xavier was able to keep its doubles teams fresh by winning
five of its singles matches against Mountain Ridge.
The key match was the No. 5 spot. The Gators’ Maddie
Reinhart won the first game against Mountain Ridge’s Samantha Guerrero, 11-9,
but the match was in danger of going to a third game because Guerrero led most
of the way. Reinhart, however, rallied for a 13-12 win, and combined with
Misaal Irfan’s victory in the No. 6 singles, the Gators could breathe a sigh of
relief.
Xavier-Mountain
Ridge semifinal results
Xavier 5, Mountain Ridge 1
Singles
MacKenzie Whitten, MR, def. Tatum Clarke, X, 7-11, 11-7,
11-1.
Emily Woodrow, X, def. Allison Price, MR, 11-3, 5-11, 11-1.
Annie Kamps, X, def. Gaby Nichols, MR, 11-6, 11-8.
Kiana Valentova-Macdonald, X, def. Hannah Kirby, MR, 11-6,
11-4.
Maddie Reinhart, X, def. Samantha Guerrero, MR, 11-9, 13-12.
Misaal Irfan, X, def. Brianna Adamo, MR, 11-6, 11-2.
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