Holland looking to get back to finals

IOWA CITY — The flavor was strawberry sorbet, for the record.

After dispatching a pair of opponents with relative ease Friday at the Class 2A girls’ tennis state singles tournament, Cedar Rapids Jefferson junior Lily Holland had one thing on her mind.

“I’m going to get ice cream,” Holland said with a smile after defeating Lexi Moen, 6-0, 6-1, in a 2A state singles quarterfinal at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. “I think at Heyn’s.”

While enjoying her tasty treat at the iconic Iowa City establishment, Holland – seeded fourth in the tournament and the defending 2A state runner-up – probably couldn’t help but look to the challenge that awaits today at 10 a.m. in the state semifinal … top-seeded Kira Smith of Ankeny.

“I have got to make sure I am able to hit the ball strong and deep,” Holland said. “And place it where I need to.”

Holland opened the tournament with a convincing 6-0, 6-0 victory over Linn-Mar’s Reagan Boies, an opponent she also vanquished in mid-April. The day continued Holland’s strong history of performing well at state. As a freshman, she placed sixth in singles and then memorably placed second last season.

“It is always hard to tell what Lily is thinking, what she is feeling,” Jefferson Coach Chad Garber said. “She plays the same no matter what. … She’s ready to hit the ball and put it where she wants to. If that first game plan is not working, she’ll go to the next one. She will kind of figure out her opponent as she is going and keep working.”

Holland’s only loss in singles play this season was to defending 1A state champion Gabi Fleming of Cedar Rapids Xavier. After falling short to Cedar Rapids Washington’s Katelynn Kock in last year’s 2A state singles final, Holland was energized for a return this season.

“I wanted to try to get into the finals again,” Holland said. “So that was pretty motivating.”

In the 2A state doubles bracket, Iowa City West seniors Sasha Postnikov and Marie Stier advanced to a Saturday semifinal after overwhelming the fourth-seeded duo from Johnston, 6-1, 6-2.

“One of the best things that we have together is our chemistry,” Stier said. “We have been working really, really well together this year. We have a deep friendship, too, so I think that the trust really helps us.”

At the 1A tournament in Waterloo, Fleming began defense of her state singles title with two comfortable victories. Her Xavier teammates —Ruby Smith and Isabel Tobin — also advanced to the semifinals in 1A state doubles.

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