'We played them tough' | Iowa Prep Sports

Cedar Rapids Washington?s Rina Moore keeps the rally alive as she takes a swing during the girls state team tennis tournament, at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex, in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, June 2, 2012. (Nikole Hanna/The Gazette-KCRG)

IOWA CITY ? Members of the Cedar Rapids Washington girls? tennis team smiled at each other Saturday evening. Not the normal reaction from a team after losing a championship match.

?I?d say we?re not disappointed, but more happy to have the chance to make it close,? Warrior freshman Lily Hartman said.

Undefeated and defending champion Ames gave Washington its first and only loss of the season in a 5-2 state title victory. Warriors Coach Dan Reyner said he could not be more proud of his team.

?Ames has a tremendous team, but we played them tough,? Reyner said. ?This is where we wanted to be, in the finals at the end of the season, just looking for a better finish.?

Washington made Ames sweat to claim its fourth straight title, Hartman said.

The championship duel began with Washington?s top four players losing in singles, but Rina Moore and Lanie Sabin picked up the slack with victories to cut the Ames? lead to 4-2 heading to doubles play.

Cedar Rapids Washington?s Lilly Hartman returns the ball to her opponent during the girls state team tennis tournament, at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex, in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, June 2, 2012. (Nikole Hanna/The Gazette-KCRG)

The No. 2 singles match had gone to a tiebreaker, but Washington junior Kristin King was unable to knock off Ames? Sophia Smarandescu to even the team score.

Ames? state champion doubles? team of Ann Ku and Smarandescu sealed the Warriors fate, defeating King and senior Olivia Brooks in straight sets to give Ames the title.

?It feels good that we were able to play with them and make them a little nervous,? Hartman said.

Washington advanced to the championship duel by defeating Urbandale, 5-4, in a Saturday morning semifinal. The Warriors took the first four singles matches, but Urbandale won the next four matches in singles and doubles to tie it at 4-4.

It came down to the No. 2 doubles match for the final point, and the Warriors duo of Hartman and senior Katie Hammond came through in the clutch, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Urbandale claimed third place with a win over Clinton in the consolation final.

The Warriors now look ahead to next year, and Reyner said his underclassmen performed well this week.

?We had a great group of girls this year,? Reyner said. ? We return three really good players from this squad and we have some good sophomores coming in. We?ll be back.?

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