Cedar Rapids Washington happy to be pushed to doubles in girls’ state tennis quarterfinal win over Iowa City West

CEDAR RAPIDS — Being pushed into doubles in a state tournament setting can lead to some tense times.

For top-ranked Cedar Rapids Washington, having to come out for the doubles in Saturday’s Class 2A girls’ state tennis quarterfinal with Iowa City West was actually a good thing.

Until Saturday, the postseason had strictly been a singles affair as neither of the Warriors’ prior two matches reached doubles.

Washington appeared to be on the same path Saturday, rolling to wins in the top four singles matches on its home court.

However, the fifth-ranked Trojans — under first-year coach Brenda Guan — showed plenty of fight, winning at No. 5 when Marie Stier topped Peyton Caldwell in straight sets and forcing doubles when Claire Hahn outlasted Lily Belle Barker in a third-set tiebreaker.

“It was actually good that we got a chance to play doubles today,” Washington junior Katelynn Kock said. “We haven’t had a chance to get on the court in a doubles match for a while. It gave Kathryn (Zylstra) and me some good practice. We’ll take any chance we can get to work together.”

Koch and Zylstra are the defending state doubles champions and they made quick work of Maggie Shin and Delmira Jara, 6-0, 6-0, to finish off a 5-2 victory and a berth in the state semifinals.

“We could tell by the way they were hitting the ball that we would be fine going into doubles,” said Washington Coach Nina Marquardt of her two players who lost in singles. “Both Peyton and Lily are great net players so they can go in and finish a point off early instead of getting caught up in those long, slow rallies which they had a little trouble with in singles.”

All three Warriors doubles teams were faring well in their matches before Kock and Zylstra’s win put an end to the competition.

“We knew we had to come out ready to go in doubles,” said Washington junior Mya Messenger. “West is a very good team, but we know when we are playing well we have three very strong doubles teams.”

To bring back a state title, strong doubles play will likely be needed.

“I think all the girls are really excited about what we still have ahead,” Marquardt said of her team, now 17-0 in dual meets. “They have a lot of business left to finish. They know they need to keep all the momentum they have going for the next two weeks to try and finish things off at state.”

West closed its dual season at 14-3.

In Class 1A, No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier was upset, 5-3, by No. 6 DeWitt Central in a match played at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center in Iowa City. The Saints fell behind 4-2 after singles and were not able to rally in doubles. Xavier won at No. 1 doubles but the Sabers closed out the match with a win at No. 3 doubles.

At Independence, top-ranked and defending state champion Waterloo Columbus made quick work of No 10 Decorah, winning 5-0.

State semifinal and finals matches in both classes will be held on May 30. Class 2A will be at Johnston High School with 1A set for Waukee Northwest High School.