Pella tops Xavier in Class 1A girls’ state team tennis final decided by tiebreakers

A whole season came down to a pair of tiebreakers for the Cedar Rapids Xavier girls’ tennis team.

Unfortunately for the Saints, neither went their way.

Pella's tandem of Emily Blom and Claire Smock rallied from losing the first set to win the second set over Xavier's Izzy Tobin and Ruby Smith in a tiebreaker, then win the third-set super tiebreaker, 10-5. The No. 2 doubles match was the final one on court and the win gave the Dutch a 5-4 victory over the Saints in the Class 1A girls’ state tennis title match at Byrnes Park in Waterloo.

“They came out and rallied from 3-0 down in the second set to take a lead,” Xavier Coach Matt Foxhoven said of Tobin and Smith. “I'm really proud of how they played, especially against a veteran team. It would have been easy for them to lay down but they battled and I liked the way they fought through and got to a tiebreaker.”

The Saints, who advanced with a 5-2 win over Dike-New Hartford in the semifinals, got singles wins from Gabi Fleming, Avery Link and Smith and a doubles win from Fleming and Link at No. 1. The runner-up finish is the second in three years for Xavier after winning the team title in 2021.

Foxhoven returns a number of players in 2025, but got choked up when talking about the loss of one senior.

“I can't say enough about what Avery has meant to this program,” Foxhoven said. “She is one of the best leaders we have ever had. I couldn't ask for a better senior out there.

“I told her afterwards that a loss in the championship doesn't define you career. She is one of the legends of our program with all the things she has done and accomplished. I couldn't be more thankful for having her on our team.”

In Class 2A at Waukee, Iowa City West finished third, losing to eventual state champion West Des Moines Dowling in the semifinals before outlasting Cedar Rapids Washington, 5-4, in the consolation match. The Warriors fell to West Des Moines Valley, 5-3, in the semifinals.

The West-Washington match came down to No. 1 doubles. Maggie Shin and Sophie Singh beat Mya Messenger and Lily Belle Barker in a third-set super tiebreaker for the Trojans. West also got a win at No. 3 doubles from Dalmira Jasa and Elsie Gross.

It was 3-3 after singles as Katelynn Kock, Messenger and Barker won for Washington while Singh, Jara and Claire Hahn won for the Trojans.

“We just came up a little short in that last match,” Washington Coach Nina Marquardt said. “It was a great match. The West girls played well. I'm proud of the way we overcame so many things this year and were still able to get here and play well.”