<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3bJHsy_0vivOotP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3bJHsy_0vivOotP00" width="594" height="486" >NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Avon Lake gave it all it could, but at the end of the day Medina Highland was just too deep.The Shoregals, dealing with a pair of injuries, lost to Highland 4-1 in the district semifinals of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association state team tournament at North Ridge Racket and Paddle on Tuesday.Highland (19-2) will host Magnificat, the district’s No. 2 seed, in the district final at a date to be determined. The Hornets have now beaten two seeded teams in the tournament — No. 1 Kenston and No. 4 Avon Lake.Avon Lake (12-3) was without top player Amber Korey, who is out for the remainder of the season after tearing her ACL. It also was down Aubrey Babiuch, who usually plays doubles.“My girls played their hearts out all season,” Avon Lake coach Tariq Ismail said. “I’m super proud of them. I remember at the start of the season, at the Norwalk Invite, I was a little worried. But everyone has come such a long way. Second doubles has improved all season, all of my doubles players have improved.Elizabeth Meiners took a 3-1 lead at first singles against Ally Haynes, a returning state qualifier. Haynes, however, retired at that point, giving Avon Lake the first point of the day.Highland coach Lisa Reynolds said the move was precautionary with the OHSAA sectional tournament coming up as Haynes will play doubles with Claire Schlak, earning the No. 1 seed at the Magnificat sectional.“I just hope nothing but the best for her,” Meiners said of Haynes. “I hope she can recover quickly and I want her to do super well at sectionals. She’s a super good player. My team fought till the end in all the matches. Despite the scores, I think we all competed very well and have so much to be proud of.”The rest of the Hornets took care of business. Ella Tople and Hailey Pennington at second doubles and Lily Hantz at third singles needed just 13 games to give Highland a 2-1 lead.Autumn Korey gave Schlak a challenge at second singles. Though Schlak won the first five games, Korey fought back in the second set to take a 2-1 lead before Schlak won the next four. Korey held, forced Schlak to serve out the match and clinch a 6-1, 6-3 win.“To get this far in the tournament was really great,” Korey said. “It was fun because it’s more a team achievement. We won as a team and I thought it was cool that our whole team got to move on each time. It was fun.”Highland’s Kenzie Pawlak and Wren Marquis got a strong challenge from Avon Lake’s first doubles team of Avery Brown and Malaya Marijan. The Highland duo broke at 2-1, but the Shoregals wouldn’t go away as the teams had a number of tight games, but Highland ultimately held out to win the first set 6-4. The Hornets went up two breaks at 4-1 in the second set and ultimately won 6-2 to clinch the team victory.“First doubles put up a good fight against Highland’s really strong first doubles team,” Ismail said. “I’m just super proud of all the girls. I’m very happy with where we got to. I do wish we had our strongest squad to play them strength-to-strength and see what happened, but it is what it is.”Contact Chris Sweeney at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on X.Highland 4, Avon Lake 1FIRST SINGLES: Elizabeth Meiners (AL) d. Ally Haynes, 3-1 (retired).SECOND SINGLES: Claire Schlak (H) def. Autumn Korey, 6-1, 6-3.THIRD SINGLES: Lily Hantz (H) d. Kathleen Boatwright 6-1, 6-0.FIRST DOUBLES: Kenzie Pawlak-Wren Marquis (H) def. Avery Brown-Malaya Marijan, 6-4, 6-2.SECOND DOUBLES: Ella Tople-Hailey Pennington (H) def. Maya Kliment-Jenna Turton, 6-0, 6-1</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

High school tennis: Avon Lake bows out of OTCA tournament

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Avon Lake gave it all it could, but at the end of the day Medina Highland was just too deep. The Shoregals, dealing with a pair of injuries, lost to Highland 4-1 in the district semifinals of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association state team tournament at North Ridge Racket and Paddle on Tuesday.