Prairie’s Magui Caro and Vale Caro finish second in state doubles, eye team title

CEDAR RAPIDS – After last season's missed opportunity, state runners-up gave Magui Caro and Vale Caro plenty to celebrate.

For now.

The siblings from Cedar Rapids Prairie closed a strong Class 2A girls' tennis individual state tournament and collected second-place medals in the doubles bracket Friday at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center.

'We gave it all we've got in that final match, so we don't regret anything,” Magui Caro said. 'We played really well.”

After charging into the state championship match with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Johnston in the semifinal, the Prairie doubles team pushed, but eventually succumbed to Rutgers commit Jaci Cochrane and Beth Murman of Fort Dodge, 6-4, 6-3.

'We learned from our past doubles experience,” Magui Caro said. 'When we went to the semifinals (in 2014) we got really nervous. Today we just came out in the semifinals and finals and just played our best and it worked out for us.”

With Magui heading to college at the University of Iowa in the fall, the sisters have been mindful of making every moment count in their final season as prep tennis doubles partners. They both know all too well how quickly grand plans can be taken away, as was the case last year when Magui was ruled out due to illness on the eve of regionals.

'It was really important because we don't have next year,” Vale Caro said. 'We thought, ‘This is our year, so we've got to go at it hard and do our best,' and that's what we did.”

Unseeded Alex Kozlowski of Des Moines Roosevelt won the singles state championship after Boone freshman Davi Patterson defaulted due to injury in a second set that was tied, 2-2. Kozlowski won the first set, 6-4.

In the consolation brackets, Iowa City West freshman Emma Koch finished an impressive state tournament debut in sixth place, with her only losses to Kozlowski and the 2014 state champion, Chloe Jefferies of West Des Moines Valley.

Ellie Anderson of Linn-Mar collected a seventh-place medal after she dispatched Hannah Humes of Pleasant Valley, 6-2, 6-0.

Kelly King and Hannah Sherman of Cedar Rapids Washington placed fourth in doubles, while Iowa City High's Susanna Gianola and Bihotza James-Lejarcegui finished seventh.

The end of the individual tournament means the focus shifts to the team state tournament, where undefeated Prairie (17-0) is one of just four remaining teams. The Hawks will face Urbandale (14-1) in the team state semifinal at Vets Saturday at 9 a.m., while defending state runner-up Pleasant Valley (16-0) tangles with Boone (13-1).

The semifinal winners will then duel for the team state title.

'We're all super-excited and we can't wait to play.” Vale Caro said.

CLASS 2A GIRLS' TENNIS STATE TOURNAMENT

At Cedar Rapids

(Veterans Memorial Tennis Center)

SEMIFINALS

Singles -

Alex Kozlowski (Des Moines Roosevelt) def. No. 1 Lily Feldman (Pleasant Valley), 7-6, 6-0; No. 2 Davi Patterson (Boone) def. Emilia Porubcin (Bettendorf), 6-3, 7-5.

Doubles -

No. 1 Jaci Cochrane/Beth Murman (Fort Dodge) def. No. 4 Kelly King/Hannah Sherman (Cedar Rapids Washington), 6-1, 6-4; No. 2 Magui Caro/Vale Caro (Cedar Rapids Prairie) def. No. 3 Cari Naaneep/Isabelle Hoppenjans (Johnston), 6-1, 6-4.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Singles -

Alex Kozlowski (Des Moines Roosevelt) def. No. 2 Davi Patterson (Boone), 6-4, 2-2 (injury default).

Doubles -

No. 1 Jaci Cochrane/Beth Murman (Fort Dodge) def. No. 2 Magui Caro/Vale Caro (Cedar Rapids Prairie), 6-4, 6-3.

CONSOLATIONS

Third place

Singles -

Emilia Porubcin (Bettendorf) def. Lily Feldman (Pleasant Valley), 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles -

Cari Naanep/Isabella Hoppenjans (Johnston) def. Kelly King/Hannah Sherman (Cedar Rapids Washington), 5-7, 6-3, 10-7.

Fifth place

Singles -

Chloe Jefferies (West Des Moines Valley) def. Emma Koch (Iowa City West), 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles -

Lauren Hoffert/Kelsie Peterson (West Des Moines Valley) def. Anna Corell/Olivia Feldman (West Des Moines Dowling), 6-2, 6-3.

Seventh place

Singles -

Ellie Anderson (Linn-Mar) def. Hannah Humes (Pleasant Valley), 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles -

Susanna Gianola/Bihotza James-Lejarcegui (Iowa City High) def. Emily Nutt/Roshni Penmatcha (Pleasant Valley), 6-2, 6-1.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com