MINT HILL — Seldom has ice felt so nice.
In a tense tennis match that crept along as slowly as an overloaded activity bus, West Rowan survived four fierce, frosty hours of forehands to post a 5-2 first-round upset of Piedmont in the 3A dual team state playoffs.
Despite brutally blustery conditions — wind chills dipped close to 40 degrees after a pleasant 70-plus afternoon — the Falcons are still flying.
Tuesday’s outcome was a surprise in that West (14-3) was seeded third out of the North Piedmont Conference, while familiar foe Piedmont (10-4) was the South Piedmont champion.
It was a memorable day — and evening — that saw coach Mary Ann Martinelli’s girls begin play on the four available courts, attired in short skirts and short sleeves. They finished at 8:25 p.m., bundled up as if ready to hop on the ski lift at Banner Elk.
West benefited from an unfortunate accident that cost Piedmont its No. 3 player, but the Falcons also did much to help themselves. Experience made the difference. Coach Tim Adams’ Piedmont team is solid, but youthful, with three freshmen in its top six. West had a quartet of seniors swinging in singles.
The match rode a see-saw. West started briskly, then watched momentum slip away.
West’s No. 2 doubles team of seniors Julie Ferguson and Anna Brown were the ones who ultimately ignored the pressure and handed Martinelli that elusive and decisive fifth win.
West jumped ahead with victories by Lauren Duffy and Jennifer Kluttz at 1 and 2. Kluttz, who was on top of her game, breezed. But Duffy had a serious 6-3, 6-3 scrap with towering, talented freshman Ashley Thompson.
“That girl’s going to be awesome,” said Duffy. “It was hard. I usually hit a lot of lobs but with the wind I had to change my game.”
“With this wind, you’d try to hit it here and it would go there,” explained Kluttz. “I finally said, ‘Well, OK, that’s how it is.’ ”
West picked up a pivotal comeback triumph from Ferguson at No. 3 for a 3-1 lead. Ferguson was outplayed in the first set, but gradually adjusted to the conditions and pulled out the second. She eked out the third on a tiebreaker.
West enjoyed a 4-1 lead after Ellen Crowell (No. 6), who had been on the sidelines shivering, started delivering as soon as she had access to a court.
West’s Ashley Graham, had a chance to seal the match at No. 5, but found herself locked in a marathon with Piedmont freshman Stephanie Scholl. Graham succumbed after an applause-producing duel that lasted 160 minutes.
Graham’s loss meant West had to find a doubles win somewhere, and Brown and Ferguson did the honors. Their lead was only 8-7 at one juncture, but Ferguson smacked colossal serves for 9-7, then put one away at the net for game, set and match.
“These girls showed me that they’re smart and mentally tough,” said a happy Martinelli.
Especially Brown, because she went back in the fray and redeemed herself after being blown away 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4.
“Anna didn’t play well in singles, but in doubles she was able to put that in the back of her mind,” said Martinelli. “She erased it. She moved on.”
So do the Falcons.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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