High School Tennis Divisions

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HASLETT – Going into their No. 1 doubles final, Haslett’s Mary Kate Martell and Claire Cowan weren’t aware how significant a victory would be.

A win would clinch yet another regional tennis title for the Division 3 No. 7-ranked Vikings. A loss would keep Williamston’s championship hopes alive.

And in the final moments of Thursday’s regional at Haslett High School, the Haslett duo defeated the Hornets’ Madison Gardner and Taylor Keip in two sets to seal the deal for their school.

“Being a senior, this is my last chance to play well and help my team out with points, ” Martell said. “I’m really excited that we were able to come through.”

The Vikings captured 30 points in the tournament while No. 8-ranked Williamston finished with 25 points — both teams will advance to the state finals. After splitting with the Hornets last year, Haslett has earned at least a share of the regional crown for five straight season.

The Vikings finished with six flight champions, which was the most by any team in the regional.

“Both teams have had good programs over the last few years and they’re both very close, ” Haslett coach Henry Brunnschweiler said. “I give Williamston a lot of credit — they played real hard. It helped that we got to play our regional at home because it gave our girls a little bit of an edge at times.”

In No. 1 singles, Hornets junior Sara Daavettila defeated Haslett’s Hannah Vogelsang, 6-0, 6-0. The victory gave Daavettila back-to-back regional championships. Both girls will compete in the state finals, as the Michigan High School Athletic Association takes the top-two regional finalists in No. 1 singles.

“It’s really exciting, especially since we all get to go (to the state finals), ” Daavettila said. “It’s a relief knowing that we’re all going.”

Fowlerville finished third with 14 points. The Gladiators were the only other school to have someone reach a flight-championship match, as senior Rachael Peckins fell in two sets to the Vikings’ Anuva Suresh in No. 4 singles.