By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ever since an early-season 8-5 loss, Hayden freshman star Ainzley Zulueta had been looking forward to a possible rematch with Bishop Miege freshman Breanna Quigley, just to see how far she had progressed over the course of the season.
Zulueta got that opportunity in Saturday's Class 4A regional tournament at Kossover Tennis Center and delivered in a big way, taking a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory to claim the regional singles championship.
"Honestly, I really wanted to prove myself,'' said Zulueta, now 31-5 on the season. "After losing a few matches early in the season I trained a lot more so I could be more conditioned and it really paid off.''
Hayden freshman Ainzley Zulueta won the singles championship in Saturday's 4A regional at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Zulueta took control of Saturday's final early on and felt good about her performance.
"I think I actually played really well,'' she said. "At the beginning of this tournament my ankle was kind of hurting, but I think after I started winning a few points in a row that brought up my confidence to play better.''
Hayden, which tied Bishop Miege for the regional team title with 20 points, also got a championship from the doubles team of sophomore Lauren Sandstrom and Emily Sheetz and a third-place doubles finish from juniors Briahna Barnett and Sloane Sims.
Hayden freshman Emily Sheetz (right) congratulates sophomore doubles partner Lauren Sandstrom after a good shot in Saturday's Class 4A regional tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sandstrom and Sheetz, who improved to 22-6, claimed the title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Miege's Livi Shull and Clair Winklhofer in the championship match while Barnett and Sims took a 7-6 (7-5 tiebreaker), 4-6, 6-4 win over Miege's Emma Larzarcyk and Emily Lynn in the third-place match.
Overall, Hayden coach Christy Sheetz said it was a banner day for her Wildcats.
"I am so pleased,'' Sheetz said. "Two of them are essentially first-year varsity players as juniors and then there's two freshmen and one sophomore so I have a young team and a lot to look forward to.''
Next up in the 4A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Winfield.
SHERER QUALIFIES IN 3A-1A
Rossville junior Alivia Sherer, who competed for Hayden during the regular season as a co-op player, punched her ticket to the 3A-1A state tournament with a third-place finish in the 3A-1A regional tournament at Hillsboro.
Sherer finished off her regional performance with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Marantha Christian Academy's Olivia Favero in the third-place match.
Sherer will now compete in the 3A-1A state tournament Friday and Saturday at Maize South High School.
CLASS 4A GIRLS TENNIS REGIONAL
Team scores
Bishop Miege 20, Hayden 20, Wamego 9, Ottawa 7, Paola 2.
Individual results
Singles
Championship -- Zulueta, Hayden, def. Quigley, Bishop Miege, 6-2, 6-1.
Third -- Jahn, Ottawa, def. Myers, Bishop Miege, 6-3, 6-3.
Fifth -- Jones, Wamego, def. Stewart, Wamego, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Doubles
Championships -- Sandstrom/Sheetz, Hayden, def. Shull/Winklhofer, Wamego, 6-1, 6-4.
Third -- Briana Barnett/Sloane Sims, Hayden, def. Larzarcyk/Lynn, Bishop Miege, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4.
Fifth -- Wohler/Grubel, Wamego, def. Gallagher/Jones, Wamego, NA.
