For the first time in school history, the Saxony Lutheran girls tennis team officially won a district championship last Thursday at home.
The Crusaders (17-0) claimed the Class 1 District 1 title with a 5-1 win over North County (12-2).
Saxony’s senior doubles duo of Sadie Elmore and Lauren Hillin edged out the Raiders Claire Scott and Kourtney Yount for a 8-6 win, while junior Emmie Keller and senior Natalie Hahs won 8-2.
Moving to singles, Elmore beat North County’s Baily Whited with ease with final scores of 6-1, 6-1.
Keller also made easy work of Yount for a 6-2, 6-0 victory in her singles match, while junior Aubrey Ostendorf beat the Raiders Kambria Tracy 6-1, 6-2 to add the district plaque to the school’s trophy case.
In the district semifinals, the Crusaders beat Potosi (11-6) by a final score of 5-1 as well last Wednesday.
Saxony’s doubles duo of Ostendorf and senior Katya Rust won their match 8-1, as did Keller and Hahs.
Keller shutout her singles opponent 6-0, 6-0, while Ostendorf also won big at 6-0, 6-1. Lastly, junior Amelia Hicks was also victorious in singles verus the Trojans with a score of 6-2, 6-0.
To start the district tournament, the Crusaders handled Charleston (2-10) 5-0 as Elmore and Hillin won their doubles matchup 8-3.
Keller and Hahs ended up winning their doubles contest 8-0, while Rust and Ostendorf also had an easy time by picking up a 8-1 victory.
In singles, both Keller and Ostendorf came up big with 6-0, 6-0 wins.
Now with a trip to the Class 1 Final Four on the line, Saxony will face off against Lutheran South (12-6) in the state quarterfinals this week.
Should the Crusaders win, they will then compete as a team at state next Friday in Springfield.
Elmore and Hillin have already qualified for state as a doubles team.
“It really means a lot to go out with a bang,” Hillin said. “Our team chemistry is really good, and we are in agreement with our goal.”
