COLUMBUS — Thirdseed Columbus ended seventh- seed Pierce County’s quest for a state tennis title here Thursday afternoon in the Class AA semifinals.
The Lady Bears fell 3-1 May 15 to the Lady Blue Devils. Columbus, the Class 5A champion in 2016, face top-seed Appling County in the finals.
PCHS was making its fourth appearance in the ‘Final Four’ and second in three years. The Lady Bears lost 3-0 to eventual champion Westminster in the 2012 Class AA semis, 3-0 to runner-up Woodward Academy in the 2013 Class AAA semis, and 3-2 to runner-up Berrien in the 2023 Class AA semis.
Wendy Bennett has the only other appearance coming in the 1987 Class AA singles tournament. She also lost in the semifinals.
PCHS reached the ‘Final Four’ beating 26thseed Region 3 member Cook (3-0), 10th-seed Columbia (5-0) and 18thseed Coahulla Creek (3-0) at home.
Columbus blanked 30th-seed Murray County (4-0), 19th-seed Carver-Atlanta (3-0) and sixthseed Morgan County (4-0) en route to the semifinals.
The Lady Pirates did not lose a match over the first four rounds posting 3-0 victories in each.
Semifinals No. 3 Columbus .......3 No. 7 Lady Bears ......1
The Lady Blue Devils swept the doubles matches and split completed singles action for the victory.
Pierce County’s lone win came at No. 3 singles with Jasmine Sergent beating Katrina Hert 6-0, 6-1. Mattie Lee dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision at No. 1 to Kate Greer. MK Wetherington was leading Rachael Tillery 7-5, 3-0 at No. 2 when the match was halted.
PCHS’s No. 1 team of Addie Brown and Abbi Higginson fell 6-0, 6-1 to Molly Gobbel and Haley Heard. The No. 2 duo of Eva Horne and Riley Chambliss lost 6-3, 6-3 to Elaine Lynch and Riley Faircloth.
