The Ankeny Centennial girls’ tennis team has earned a rematch against CIML Conference rival Johnston.
The Jaguars kept their season alive with a 5-2 victory over previously unbeaten Ottumwa in the semifinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament on Wednesday. The meet was moved indoors to the Punj Tennis Center in Fairfield due to rain.
Centennial (6-9) will play at Johnston (9-1) in the regional final on Saturday at 10 a.m.
“The Jags had a phenomenal night of tennis!” said Centennial coach Alli Gustafson. “Everyone continued to up their level of play and compete the best they have all season! The girls continue to peak at the right moments!”
The Jaguars built a 4-2 lead during singles play, getting straight-set wins from Talia Baca at the No. 1 position, Ella Sutherland at No. 2 and Laura Schulz at No. 3. Ottumwa (10-1) got victories at the No. 4 and 6 spots.
The pivotal match came at the No. 5 position, where Centennial’s Carly Oliver posted a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 1-0 (7) victory over Harper Bradley.
“Carly had a fantastic showing in singles, staying composed after losing her second set and coming back to clinch her super-tiebreaker,” Gustafson said. “She came up with a critical win we needed.”
Centennial then sealed the victory when Baca and Avery Bohnenkamp rallied for a three-set win at No. 1 doubles. They teamed up for a 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (3) triumph over Madalynn Sertterh and Sonya Lundgren.
“Talia and Avery brought home another super-tiebreaker for the team, winning the meet for us!” Gustafson said. “Overall, everyone stepped up and competed for every point.”
The Jaguars will now try to avenge an earlier loss to Johnston. The Dragons defeated Centennial, 11-0, on Sept. 9.
Johnston advanced to the regional final with a 5-0 victory over Ames. The winner of Saturday’s meet will qualify for the state team tournament on Oct. 12-13 at Waukee Northwest.
“We are pumped heading into the regional final!” Gustafson said.
Here are the match-by-match results from Wednesday’s meet:
Ankeny Centennial 5, Ottumwa 2
Singles: Baca beat Sertterh, 6-3, 6-3; Sutherland beat Lundgren, 6-1, 6-2; Schulz beat Ellison, 6-3, 6-1; Toloza (O) beat Bohnenkamp, 6-4, 6-3; Oliver beat Bradley, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 1-0 (7); McWilliams (O) beat Pedersen, 6-3, 7-5.
Doubles: Baca-Bohnenkamp beat Sertterh-Lundgren, 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (3).