All it took was a “Little Dynamo” to blast J.J. Kelly into the state final.
Pocket-sized Indians No. 4 singles player Lizzie Hildebrand recorded the clinching point with a 6-3, 6-1 win as Kelly extended its own state record by defeating Rappahannock 5-0 Friday to secure its 14th championship round appearance in the Group A girls state team tennis tournament.
“She’s the ‘Little Dynamo,’ ” said Kelly coach Phyllis Wood about her standout sophomore, who resembles an even smaller version of the petite former Belgian star Justine Henin.
Hildebrand narrowly won a race with teammate Lindsey Ritchie to earn the fifth point as Ritchie, despite starting her No. 6 singles match well after Hildebrand took the court, held a comfortable 6-0, 3-0 advantage and appeared to be closing in fast on a victory of her own when Hildebrand hit a drop shot that was returned well wide to wrap up the overall win.
“It’s nice to win the game-winning match,” Hildebrand said. “It’s fun. That’s my third this year I’ve finished.”
Kelly freshman Hannah Collins initially looked to be in position to get the final point for the Indians at No. 5 singles, but she was so dominant in a 6-0, 6-0 victory that she polished off her triumph while Hildebrand was still early in her second set.
Hildebrand credited a drill known as “25 or die” for keeping her patient during her long rallies with Rappahannock’s Abby Goszka.
Juniors Hannah Barnette and Kaitlin Ponish set the tone for the Indians at the top of the ladder as they rolled to easy two-set victories at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.
The Raiders came closest to winning a set and potentially a point at No. 3 singles, but Kelly senior Claire Rigg won the final two games for a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
“Usually for some reason I always play three sets, but this one I was like, I’m pushing it through,” Rigg said. “I’m doing it, all or nothing.”
The top-to-bottom sweep was an impressive showing for a program that can tie the all-class record of nine girls team championships with a victory in today’s final, but hasn’t made it this far since losing to Radford in the 1999 final.
The Indians last state championship came in 1997, which capped off a run of seven consecutive titles.
Kelly also had a state-record streak of 128 matches without a loss in the 1990s, but most of those wins came before the current members of this year’s squad were even born.
“I don’t know if they really realize what an accomplishment they’ve made,” Wood said.
In today’s final, the Indians will take on East Rockingham, which defeated Radford 5-2 on Friday and will be shooting for its first-ever girls team tennis title.
Kelly, though, will have plenty of motivation as well as the Indians look to add one more trophy to their stocked case before the school is set to be consolidated to form Wise Central this summer.
“We’re so focused,” Rigg said. “We’ve been focused from the beginning. We’re just so ready for this. We’re so ready for [Saturday].”
nhubbard@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Hubbard_BHCSprt | (276) 645-2543
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