Cedar Rapids Xavier captures Class 1A girls’ team tennis title

The Cedar Rapids Xavier girls’ tennis team made sure the rematch would have a different result.

No. 1 Xavier was upset by Pella, 5-4, in last season's Class 1A girls’ team tennis final. The two teams met once again on Monday afternoon for the title at Caldwell Park.

This time around, it was Xavier walking away with the win.

Coach Matt Foxhoven's Saints completed the Class 1A trifecta of state titles, downing Pella, 5-2, to win their first state team title since 2021.

"It was such a great day for our program," Foxhoven said. "Just super proud of all eight of these girls. Everyone contributed throughout the year and had a hand in things."

Monday's win capped a magical 48 hours for the program. On Saturday in Waterloo, sophomore Gabi Fleming won her second-straight 1A singles title with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Kate Holton of Waterloo Columbus. The doubles team of Izzy Tobin and Ruby Smith also won state, defeating Izzy Norton and Aidalyn Tott of Dike-New Hartford, 6-4, 6-3.

Foxhoven said prior to Monday's play Xavier has been focused from the start of practice in March and it showed in the final.

"We had to scratch and claw today to pull this out, but we weren't expecting anything to be handed to us," Foxhoven said. "We have talked all year about playing Xavier tennis and the girls really showed that today."

The Saints shot out to a 4-0 lead over Pella in singles as Fleming, Smith, Tia Halabi and Lulu Rozeboom all won in straight sets. Pella was able to send the match to doubles as Abby Hietbrink came back from a set down to beat Izzy Tobin and Addison Van Wyk topped Gemma Zeckser in two sets. Zeckser was in the singles lineup replacing Gemma Younadam, who still is recovering from an appendectomy. Freshman Kelsey Weiss was the replacement in doubles and was on court with Rozeboom when the match ended.

"I want to give a special shoutout to Gemma Younadam," Foxhoven said. "She wasn't able to play today but was right there on every changeover to help her teammates along."

Any hopes for a Dutch rally was quickly doused. Fleming and Halabi won the first set of the No. 1 doubles match with Hietbrink and Claire Smock 6-0, then got up an early break in the second and went on to take the set, 6-3 to clinch the school's third state title since 2019.

Earlier on Monday, the Saints advanced to the final with a 5-1 win over Carroll Kuemper. Fleming, Tobin, Halabi, Rozeboom and Zeckser all posted wins for Xavier. Pella advanced with a 5-2 win over Decorah. The Vikings claimed third place with a 5-1 win over Kuemper in the consolation match.

In the Class 2A team tournament, host Waukee Northwest took the title with a 5-1 win over West Des Moines Dowling. Johnston took third place, downing West Des Moines Valley, 5-1.

CLASS FINAL

Xavier 5, Pella 2

Singles

Gabi Fleming (X) def. Claire Smock, 6-2, 6-0

Abby Hietbrink (P) def. Izzy Tobin, 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-4)

Ruby Smith (X) def. Sydney Namminga, 6-2, 6-1

Tia Halabi (X) def. Kytilyn Plate, 6-3, 6-1

Lulu Rozeboom (X) def. Regan DeJong, 6-2, 6-0

Addison Van Wyk (P) def. Gemma Zeckser (X), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3

Doubles

Fleming-Halabi (X) def. Smock-Hietbrink, 6-0, 6-3

CLASS 1A SEMIFINALS

Xavier 5, Carroll Kuemper 1

Singles

Gabi Fleming (X) def. Kaylie Simons, 6-1, 6-0

Izzy Tobin (X) def. Sophie Tidgren, 6-0, 6-4

Charlotte Schwabe (CK) def. Ruby Smith, 6-3, 6-3

Tia Halabi (X) def. Ella Schwarte, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)

Lulu Rozeboom (X) def. Bella Lu, 6-3, 6-2

Gemma Zeckser (X) def. Kaia Neumann, 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-2)