VHSL GROUP A GIRLS TENNIS: Ninth title eludes J.J. Kelly

 The upstarts ended the dynasty once and for all.

First-year school East Rockingham defeated likely final-year school J.J. Kelly 5-2 to claim the Group A girls state team tennis title Saturday morning.

The victory gave East Rockingham its first state title in any sport, while Kelly’s loss prevented it from tying the all-class record of nine girls tennis state championships in its expected farewell run before the school is scheduled to be consolidated with Pound this summer.

Facing a team that featured Allison Michael, the Group A singles champion, at the top of the ladder, Kelly instead had to settle for adding a state-record 14th state final appearance as the final item on the program’s lengthy list of accomplishments.

“It would have been cool to actually win just where we’re the last Kelly team, but the last Kelly team making it to the final is quite an accomplishment,” said Indians junior Kaitlin Ponish.

While Kelly (16-2) relied on its depth all season, East Rockingham (18-0) proved too strong at the top Saturday.

The Eagles swept the top three singles matches and then secured the match when Michael and No. 3 singles player Sarah Cameron recorded an impressive 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 1 doubles.

Kelly got straight set wins from Lizzie Hildebrand and Hannah Collins at No. 4 and 5 singles, respectively, but with the Indians trailing 4-2 after singles play Kelly coach Phyllis Wood said she knew it would be a difficult task to win all three doubles matches with Michael-Cameron as one of the pairings.

“I like to say anything can happen, but we knew it was going to be tough,” Wood said. “Their top seeds are phenomenal really.”

East Rockingham coach Alissa Michael said moving into doubles with a 4-2 lead was pivotal.

“Just going in relaxed, knowing that we only had to win one doubles really put us over the edge,” she said.

While disappointed in the loss, Ponish said there was no shame in falling to the Eagles, a team that was split out of Group AA Spotswood, which finished as the 2009 state runner-up.

“They gave us some good competition,” she said. “They won it fair and square. They deserved it.”

Although Kelly likely won’t be able to return to the state tournament next year, a number of Indians, including top seeds Hannah Barnette and Ponish, are set to be back in 2012 to compete under the banner of the Wise Central Warriors.

Wood is retiring, but she said she hopes another first-year school claims the Group A title next spring.

“I would love to see that,” Wood said.

East Rockingham, however, isn’t losing anyone off this year’s team and will be aiming in 2012 to keep the school’s perfect record alive.

“I’m just so proud of these girls and so excited for next year,” Alissa Michael said. “We have everybody coming back next year so we’re really hoping for a second one to follow it up.”

Another Region D tennis team also fell one win short of a state championship Saturday as the Lee High boys lost to defending champion George Mason, falling 5-0. The Lee High pair of Marc Huff and Tyler Tindell also lost in the doubles final Saturday to a duo from Glenvar.

Although the Kelly girls weren’t able to secure one last title, Wood said her team’s overall season gave the storied program a fitting ending.

“You know I would have loved to have won it, but I’m not disappointed in our girls because they played with heart and I just can’t say enough about them,” she said.

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