Myrtle Beach tops Chapin for 3A tennis title

The Chapin girls tennis team went toe-to-toe with Myrtle Beach, but the Seahawks held off the Eagles 4-2 and claimed the 3A state championship Saturday at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center.

“The better team won today,” Eagles coach John Rogers said. “We fought the whole time. It looked early that they were going to blow us out, but we fought hard.”

Chapin’s No. 1 player, Savannah Fuller, outlasted Elizabeth Truluck 2-6, 6-4, 10-8. No. 3 player Kate Koon held off Emma Springs 6-4, 1-6, 10-8 to post the Eagles’ (20-3) victories on the day.

“Tiebreakers can go either way,” Myrtle Beach coach Jeri Himmelsbach said. “One or two points can decide a match, and we had several of those 10-point tiebreakers today. You’ve got to win those points to win the match.”

Myrtle Beach (21-1) got victories at No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5 singles. From Rogers’ perspective, the Seahawks might well have swept the matches.

“It looked like it might be a 6-0 (loss) because, at one point, we were down in every court,” Rogers said. “Savannah just fought back tremendously, and Katie did the same in hers.”

The No. 2 doubles team of Catherine Truluck and Katherine Woodard topped Chapin’s Olivia Cartwright and Emily Kibler 7-5, 7-5 to secure the title.

“Actually, we had the lead twice in No.2 doubles in the first and second set,” Rogers said, “But, in the end, we couldn’t hold it.”

The Seahawks’ win wasn’t clear until the final point at No. 2 doubles, Himmelsbach said.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match. I was worried about every one of them – it was that close. We were very well matched up.Anybody that watched them play would agree that it was good tennis.”

Singles: Savanna Fuller (CHS) def. Elizabeth Truluck 2-6, 6-5, 10-8; Rachel Berkey (MB) def. Mary Kathryn Dickson 6-0, 7-5; Katie Koon (CHS) def. Emma Springs 6-4, 1-6, 10-8; Bailey Deskins (MB) def. Emily Head 6-0, 6-2; Paxton Gentry (MB) def. Emily Sawvell 6-1, 6-1. Doubles: Catherine Truluck/Katherine Woodard (MB) def. Olivia Cartright/Emily Kibler 7-5, 7-5. Records: C 20-3, MB 21-1

This story was originally published November 8, 2014 at 11:42 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach tops Chapin for 3A tennis title."