Girls’ tennis postseason continues Saturday

The rapid-fire girls’ tennis postseason continues on Saturday with the start of team regional play at sites around the state.

Opening round and quarterfinal matches are set for Saturday. Semifinal matches will be played on Wednesday with the regional finals set for next Saturday with eight teams in each class advancing to the state meet, Oct. 6-7. Pella High School will host the 1A meet with 2A play being held at Waukee Northwest.

In Class 1A openers on Saturday, defending state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier will host Oskaloosa. Decorah has been ranked No. 2 all season behind the Saints. The Vikings will host Charles City.

Cedar Rapids rivals Prairie and Jefferson will meet in a 2A quarterfinal match at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center. Iowa City High will host Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

All matches begin at 10 a.m.

Xavier will be looking to build on its success earlier this week in the singles and doubles regional. Coach Matt Foxhoven saw all six of his players advance. Now, the Saints begin the path to defending the state title they won in the spring.

One difference with the new fall format, Xavier can return to state without ever leaving its home courts. Eight teams will play over two days at state. In past years it was a four-team, one-day event.

"Playing at home, of course, makes some things easier in a sense of not having to take too many long road trips," Foxhoven said. "We are looking forward to hosting at Xavier.

"I think the two-day (state) tournament will be a good thing. I’ve always felt that getting the finals to one day would be a good change. Hopefully we get to experience that this year and see if there are any differences from years past."

Decorah could end up being the Saints' opponent in the state finals if the rankings hold. Coach Amanda Huinker saw her daughters, Olivia and Grace, qualify for the state doubles tournament with Kaitlyn Bjork making the singles field.

Iowa City West is the area's best hope to make the 2A field. Coach Nina Marquardt's team is ranked fifth and relies heavily on its depth. The Trojans have a first-round bye and will host the West-Prairie winner on Wednesday and are slated to host a regional final next Saturday.

Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Washington also received first-round byes and will host semifinal matches on Wednesday.

Team Regionals

CLASS 1A

FIRST ROUND

Saturday, Sept. 20

REGION 1

Fort Madison at Burlington Notre Dame, 10 a.m.

QUARTERFINAL ROUND

REGION 1

Ft. Madison/Burlington ND winner at Fairfield, 1 p.m.

Maquoketa at Camanche, 10 a.m.

Mount Pleasant at Central DeWitt, 10 a.m.

Davenport Assumption vs. Keokuk at North Scott, 10 a.m.

REGION 5

Charles City at Decorah, 10 a.m.

Osage at Western Dubuque, 10 a.m.

Oelwein at Dubuque Wahlert, 10 a.m.

Clear Lake at Waverly-Shell Rock, 10 a.m.

REGION 6

Marion at Waterloo Columbus, 10 a.m.

Nevada at South Tama, 10 a.m.

Grundy Center at Boone, 10 a.m.

Union at Grinnell, 10 a.m.

REGION 7

Dike-New Hartford vs. Hampton-Dumont DOWS at Waterloo, 10 a.m.

Independence at Webster City, 10 a.m.

Aplington-Parkersburg at FD St. Edmond, 10 a.m.

Iowa Falls-Alden at Carroll Kuemper, 10 a.m.

REGION 8

Oskaloosa at CR Xavier, 10 a.m.

Newton at Mount Vernon, 10 a.m.

Des Moines Hoover at North Polk, 10 a.m.

Saydel at Pella Christian, 10 a.m.

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Wednesday, Sept. 24

REGION 1

At Fairfield: Saturday's Fairfield/Camanche winner, 1 p.m.

At Central DeWitt: Saturday's Central DeWitt/North Scott winners, 1 p.m.

REGION 5

At Decorah: Saturday's Decorah/Western Dubuque winners, 1 p.m.

At Dubuque Wahlert: Saturday's Wahlert/Waverly-Shell Rock winners, 1 p.m.

REGION 6

At Waterloo: Saturday's Waterloo/South Tama winners, 1 p.m.

At Boone: Saturday's Boone/ Grinnell winners, 1 p.m.

REGION 7

At Waterloo: Saturday's Waterloo/Webster City winners, 1 p.m.

At Fort Dodge: Saturday's Fort Dodge/Carroll winners, 1 p.m.

REGION 8

At CR Xavier: Saturday's Xavier/Mount Vernon winners, 1 p.m.

At North Polk: Saturday's North Polk/Pella winners, 1 p.m.

FINAL ROUND

Saturday, Sept 27

REGION 1

At Fairfield: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

REGION 5

At Decorah: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

REGION 6

At Waterloo: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

REGION 7

At Waterloo: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

REGION 8

At CR Xavier: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

CLASS 2A

QUARTERFINAL ROUND

Saturday, Sept. 20

REGION 2

At Ankeny: Ankeny vs. DM East, 10 a.m.

At Marshalltown: IC Liberty vs. Marshalltown, 10 a.m.

REGION 3

At Vets Tennis Center: CR Jefferson vs. CR Prairie, 10 a.m.

At IC High: Iowa City High vs. CR Kennedy, 10 a.m.

REGION 6

At Davenport: Davenport West vs. Muscatine, 10 a.m.

At North Scott: North Scott vs. Davenport Central, 10 a.m.

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Wednesday, Sept. 24

REGION 2

At WDM Valley: WDM Valley vs, Ankeny/DM East winner, 1 p.m.

At Ankeny: Ankeny Centennial vs. IC Liberty/Marshalltown winner, 1 p.m.

REGION 3

At Iowa City West: IC West vs. CR Jefferson/CR Prairie winner, 1 p.m.

At CR Washington: CR Washington vs. IC High/CR Kennedy winner, 1 p.m.

REGION 6

At Pleasant Valley: Pleasant Valley vs. Davenport West/Muscatine winner, 1 p.m.

At Linn-Mar: Linn-Mar vs. North Scott/Davenport Central winner, 1 p.m.

FINAL ROUND

Saturday, Sept. 27

REGION 2

At Ankeny: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

REGION 3

At Iowa City West: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.

REGION 6

At Pleasant Valley: Wednesday's semifinal winners, 10 a.m.