The Pella Girls Tennis team qualified two entries to the State Singles/Doubles Tournament on May 26-27 in Waterloo at Byrnes Park Tennis Center. Emily Blom finished as the Singles Regional Champion for the third consecutive year. Alloree Else and Lily VanDusseldorp finished as the Doubles Runners Up to join Emily.
Emily entered as the #2 Seed and got off to a fast start, according to Head Coach Josh McCollam, winning her first match 6-0, 6-0 against Korynna Olson of Clarke. Blom held off Vanessa Nop who turned it on a bit in the second set with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. For the second consecutive year, Emily faced Grace Peck of Saydel in the semifinals and had similar success with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. In the finals, Emily had a rematch against her first opponent of the season, #1 Seed Kailyn Zugay of Ballard. In their previous meeting on April 3, Emily lost a tough match 6-10 at Ballard. However, Emily was able to avenge that loss. Emily battled hard through a very tight first set. In the second set, Emily found another level and secured the Regional Championship 7-5, 6-0, according to McCollam.
Alloree Else and Lily VanDusseldorp entered the tournament as the #4 Seed and made quick work of Sami Nicolet and McKayla Wood 6-0, 6-0. Else and VanDusseldorp weathered a strong storm that went the distance in both sets and ended in a match tiebreak, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 1-0 (4). Awaiting them was the #1 Seed Merced Ramirez and Tessa Rolenc from Red Oak. MCollam says Alloree and Lily showcase sdome great net play and tight angles, winning the match 6-4, 6-3 to punch their ticket to the State Tournament. The Finals featured familiar foes, Katy Roose and Sydney VanArendonk of Pella Christian. For the third time this year, Else and VanDusseldorp fell to the Pella Christian team; this time with 0-6, 1-6 result.
Claire Smock fell short of her State Tournament bid, losing 3-6, 5-7 to Runner Up Kaityn Zugay (Ballard). Prior to her semifinals match, Claire was grooving: 6-2, 6-4 against #4 Seed Claire Vander Molen (Pella Christian) and 6-1, 6-3 over Grace Wingfield (Red Oak). Mallory Westerkamp and Bryn Higginbotham had a tough draw against eventual champions Roose and Van Arendonk (Pella Christian), 2-6, 1-6, which was the second closest match of the day for the Eagles duo.
The Dutch now set their eyes on the Team Regional which starts on Saturday in Oskaloosa, where they will face Chariton. Winners of Pella v Chariton and Oskaloosa v Knoxville will play a second match on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the Team Regional Final.
The Pella boys golf team kept their season going Wednesday with a 3rd place finish at the 3A sectional held in Washington. The Dutch placed 3rd to the hosting Demons and Oskaloosa to earn the right to play at the district meet held next week at Bos Landen. AJ Hoekstra was the runner-up meet medalist with his score of 80, Cade McGinley carded an 84, Cole Floden scored an 85, and Luke Keitges rounded out the team score with a 90. Pella competes for a second consecutive state bid Monday at their home course.