Doubles teams from Cedar Rapids Xavier, Washington aim for girls’ state tennis gold

Courtney Carstensen and Ally Burger want to defend Class 1A title, Katelynn Kock and Kathryn Zylstra seek redemption in 2A

Mike Condon - correspondent

May. 10, 2022 4:24 pm

Cedar Rapids Xavier's Courtney Carstensen high-fives partner Ally Burger as they warm up for their match during last year’s girls’ regional tennis meet at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. The two will try to defend their state title this spring. (The Gazette)

For one doubles team, it is a chance to defend. For the other, it is a chance to complete unfinished business.

Cedar Rapids Xavier's duo of Courtney Carstensen and Ally Burger won the Class 1A state doubles title last year while Cedar Rapids Washington's Katelynn Kock and Kathryn Zylstra took third in Class 2A.

All four would have been contenders had they elected to play in the singles draw, but in the end, both teams elected to make another doubles run.

"Both thought about singles and Ally was really considering it,“ said Xavier Coach Matt Foxhoven, ”but at the end of the day they decided they wanted to try and defend their doubles title."

Warriors Coach Brandon Hornback confirmed his duo elected to take the same path.

"I am confident they could qualify for state in singles or doubles, '' he said, "but I think finishing third in the state last year left them wanting more so they are coming back for another shot at the title."

Girls tennis regional singles and doubles tournaments will be held around the state Wednesday, beginning at 9 a.m. Winners and runners-up qualifying for the state tournament, May 27-28.

Class 1A state qualifiers will play at the University of Iowa's Hawkeye Recreation and Tennis Complex. The Class 2A state meet will be at Waukee Northwest High School.

Top-ranked Xavier will be hosting one of the 1A regionals. Foxhoven likes his team's chances to advance multiple players to state.

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"Ella Tallett and Avery Link are going to go singles," he said. "Riley Braksiek and Maggie Zittergruen will be our second doubles team. All of these girls have been tested throughout the year, and I am looking forward to seeing them compete in the tournament."

The Saints will be joined in the field by area schools Marion, Maquoketa, Mount Vernon, South Tama and Union. Independence and Western Dubuque are in the field at No. 2 Waterloo Columbus. No. 7 Decorah is part of a regional at Waverly-Shell Rock.

Washington is ranked No. 4 in Class 2A. The Warriors will be part of a six-team regional at North Scott that also includes No. 9 Liberty.

"Our regional has some good competition," Hornback said. "I am confident we will have a good showing."

Other area 2A teams will compete at three sites. Cedar Rapids Prairie, Linn-Mar and Iowa City West will play at Clinton. Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Iowa City High were assigned to the Pleasant Valley regional while Cedar Rapids Kennedy will compete at Marshalltown.

Team regional play begins on Saturday and culminates with the state semifinals and finals on June 1. Class 2A will be held at Waukee Northwest with the 1A meet at Waveland Park Courts in Des Moines.

Pairings were released on Monday. In Class 1A Region 3, Xavier opens its title defense at home against Maquoketa at 9 a.m. A win in that match would place them against the winner of a match between Marion and Independence at 1 p.m. Regional finals are set for next Tuesday with first-round state matches set for May 21.

In 2A Region 4, Washington received a bye and will play the winner of Davenport Central and Dubuque Senior on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Kennedy. The host Cougars also received a bye and will play the winner of Iowa City High and Jefferson, also at 9 a.m. on Tuesday

In 2A Region 3, Linn-Mar and Iowa City West meet in a first-round match at 9 a.m. Saturday at West with the winner moving on to play at Liberty at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Prairie received a bye and will meet the Waterloo East/Waterloo West winner at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Cedar Falls.

SINGLES AND DOUBLES REGIONALS

Wednesday, May 11

(Play begins at 9 a.m.)

CLASS 1A

At Xavier: Camanche, CR Xavier, DeWitt Central, Grinnell, Marion, Maquoketa, Mount Vernon/Lisbon, South Tama, Union

At Waterloo Columbus: Aplington-Parkersburg, Dike-New Hartford, Dubuque Wahlert, Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Independence, Oelwein, South Hardin, Waterloo Columbus, Western Dubuque

At Waverly-Shell Rock: Charles City, Clear Lake, Decorah, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Iowa Falls-Alden, Osage, Waverly-Shell Rock, Webster City, Fort Dodge St. Edmond

CLASS 2A

At Clinton: CR Prairie, Clinton, Davenport West, Dubuque Hempstead, Iowa City West, Linn-Mar

At Marshalltown: Cedar Falls, CR Kennedy, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Waterloo East, Waterloo West

At North Scott: Burlington, CR Washington, Davenport North, Dubuque Senior, Iowa City Liberty, North Scott

At Pleasant Valley: Bettendorf, CR Jefferson, Davenport Central, Iowa City High, Muscatine, Pleasant Valley