Ankeny Centennial’s Abbie Peterson finally ran into an opponent that could match her powerful shots stroke for stroke.
The second-seeded Peterson dropped a 6-4, 7-6 decision to fourth-seeded Andrea Porubcin of Bettendorf in the championship match of the Class 2A singles division at the girls’ state tennis tournament on Saturday. It was the first loss in 18 matches this season for the junior, who had never dropped a set prior to Saturday’s final at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Center in Iowa City.
“I cannot even describe how proud I am of Abbie!” said Centennial coach Alli Gustafson. “She battled so toughly in the finals, but ultimately the match fell to Porubcin. Andrea deserves a lot of credit.”
While Peterson rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Julianna Mascardo of Iowa City West in the semifinals earlier on Saturday, Porubcin needed three hours to knock off top-seeded Claire Gu of Valley, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. The loss prevented Gu from defending her title.
“I had not played (Porubcin) before,” said Peterson. “She definitely had a lot of stamina to play well both matches back-to-back!”
Porubcin outlasted Peterson in a match that lasted nearly three more hours.
“Porubcin played great,” Gustafson said. “The points were long, and I am so proud of Abbie’s patience, mental toughness and consistency. She gave the match everything she had.”
In the first set, Peterson broke Porubcin’s serve to take a 4-3 lead. However, the Bettendorf senior then won the next three games to close out the set.
Porubcin built a 3-1 lead in the second set before Peterson rallied to win the next three games, getting a pair of breaks to take a 4-3 lead. Peterson later held a 5-4 advantage and had a chance to serve for the set, but Porubcin got a break and then held serve to move ahead, 6-5.
Peterson held serve to tie it at 6-6, but Porubcin then won the tiebreaker to close out the match.
“During the second set especially, Abbie took control of the match and played aggressively, putting more balls away and playing the net strategically,” Gustafson said. “But ultimately, Porubcin was able to get almost every ball back, putting pressure on Abbie to end the point.”
Peterson’s closest match prior to Saturday’s final came on April 27, when she posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over eventual state qualifier Kira Smith of Ankeny.
“I think I did play some pretty good players before state except for Claire, because she was gone for the Valley meet,” Peterson said. “I felt ready for it, but just didn’t play my best–especially in the first set–and didn’t play aggressively enough the way I should have. I thought that I had chances in the first and second sets, but it just didn’t go my way that day unfortunately.
“She’s a great player and deserves a lot of credit!” Peterson added.
Peterson matches the accomplishment of her brother Caleb, who placed second in Class 2A singles at the boys’ state tournament on Wednesday.
“Abbie has a lot to be proud of,” Gustafson said. “She has had an incredible season and is not done yet! Team state on Tuesday is up next to finish off her junior season!”
The third-ranked Jaguars (12-1) will play No. 2 Dowling Catholic (13-1) in the semifinals on Tuesday at Johnston at 8 a.m. The Maroons won an earlier matchup, 6-4, on April 11.
No. 1 Cedar Rapids Washington (17-0) will face No. 4 Valley (12-3) in the other semifinal. The championship and third-place matches are slated for 11:15 a.m.
