Lexington Tennis Team Falls to Dutch Fork in Semifinals

The Lexington girls’ tennis team fought hard but fell short in the semifinals of the Class 4A Lower State Championship as they lost 4-2 to Dutch Fork on Wednesday at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center.

This was the seventh time the Wildcats dropped in the semifinals of the state championship in the past eight years, according to a report in The State. 

Lexington’s two wins came in singles at the no. 2 and 3 spots. Eighth-grader Amy Lance defeated Dutch Fork’s Alison Walsh 6-2, 6-4 at no. 2. Lance’s teammate, junior Kelly Gajewski, won her match against Haley Owens at no. 3 as Owens retired.

Two of the four matches the Wildcats lost were decided in the tiebreaker. At the no. 4 singles match, sophomore Erin Lavisky started behind as she dropped the first set 6-2 to Anna Maria Gardner. Lavisky came back to win the second set 6-3 but lost the super tiebreaker 10-6.

At the no. 5 singles, freshman Carley Neuberger lost a tough battle against Carolina Sloop as she dropped the first set 6-1 but won the second set also 6-1 to take the decision to the tiebreaker. Neuberger fought hard but lost 12-10.

The Wildcats finished their season 18-7, while the Silver Foxes reach the finals with a 16-1 record.