Cedar Rapids Washington duo seizes Class 2A state tennis doubles crown

It was one of the reasons they decided to play again in the Class 2A state doubles tournament.

Cedar Rapids Washington’s Kathryn Zylstra and Katelynn Kock lost a tough three-set semifinal match to West Des Moines Dowling’s Mackenzie Klein and Ava Petersen last year.

They were hoping for another shot at the Maroon pair. When the two doubles teams were the top seeds, the opportunity was there.

Zylstra and Kock seized it on Saturday afternoon at Waukee Northwest High School.

After rolling to a 6-1, 6-0 semifinal win over Bettendorf’s Elizabeth Alves and Andrea Porbucin, the Warrior team avenged last year’s defeat with a 7-6, 7-5 victory in the title match.

The championship is the first doubles title in school history for a Washington duo. Holly Harris (1987) and Susan Moen (1968) won state singles championships for the Warriors.

“I think we both had some nerves during the whole entire match,” Kock said of the final. “I think we both knew deep down we could do it because we put in the work before and during the season to become a better doubles team.”

According to Zylstra, they came to state last year and did not really know what to expect. There was a different vibe as they took the court for this year’s event.

“I really think the difference between this year and last year was that we believed in ourselves more,” she said. “We came out and played with more confidence and I think it showed in our play.”

Both sets in the title match were close. In the end, the ability of Zylstra and Kock to return serve a bit better than the Dowling pair made the difference.

“Our ability to return serve, then be consistent with our groundstrokes was a big factor,” Kock said. “We had to be ready for their volleys because they were both amazing with their volleys.”

With the title in hand, Zylstra, a junior, and Kock, a sophomore, could come back and defend their title next year.

“We both just want to enjoy the win now,” Zylstra said. “We think either way, no matter what we decide, that we are both going to place well.”

In the singles final, West Des Moines Valley’s Claire Gu was a 6-4, 6-2 winner over West Des Moines Dowling’s Allison Szalay.

Ella Gilbert of Iowa City Liberty took sixth in singles, losing 6-4, 6-0 to Lauren Masengarb of Pleasant Valley after beating Sasha Hyacinth of Waterloo West, by injury default in a morning match.