The Herald-Zeitung

Two time defending state champion New Braunfels dominated Houston Memorial 15-4 to advance to the Class 5A finals at the UIL State Team Tennis tournament at the Lakeway World of Tennis.

“We really wanted to win this, we are focused and really ready to play,” said University of Georgia signee Lilly Kimbell after winning 6-0, 6-0 in girls number one singles then partnering with Jarrett Fisher to win 6-0, 6-0 in first girls doubles.

The Unicorns, winner of 5A in 2008 and 4A in 2007, extended their unbeaten win streak to 74 matches and will meet Klein, a 10-9 winner over Lubbock Coronado in the championship Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Klein rallied from 6-1 deficit to shock Lubbock Coronado when sixth girls player Emily Olivier won 6-1, 7-5 to claim her match and earn the deciding tenth team point for Coronado.

“Down 6-1, I didn’t think we had a chance but the boys played well and we got back into it then when we closed to 5-8 and had our girls singles to go I thought we could win and Emily really came through,” said Klein coach Holly Cannon.

New Braunfels was good to the point of being ruthlessly methodical. The Unicorns actually reached their tenth team point while Houston Memorial had just two points but coach David Mueller wanted to get all of his kids a chance to get on the court at the state tournament.

“All the kids work hard, they play hard, practice hard and do a great job, it is only right to give them playing time at this level,’ Mueller said.

New Braunfels won four of six boys singles, all six girls singles, one of three boys doubles and all three girls doubles plus the mixed doubles match. The Unicorns won all nine girls matches in the victory.

“Our girls just do a great overall job, they stay focused and have a great leader in Lilly, who is a great competitor, Lilly plays solid, strong fundamentally and just is relentless on the court,” Mueller said.

While Kimbell was beating Katie Davis of Houston Memorial 6-0, 6-0, Sam Adams was defeating Katie Anderson 6-0, 6-1, Jarrett Fisher was blanking Allison Iler 6-0, 6-0 and Lauren May was beating Lauren Bender 6-0, 6-1.

“This was just really exciting and we really started this season with a goal to repeat as champions and now we're here, we’ve still got a huge match in front of us,’ Fisher said.

Kelli Hine, scheduled to be playing number five singles had a sore shoulder so Liza Fieldsend played up and beat Hope Johnson 6-1, 6-0 and Caitlyn Barber closed out the girls sweep by beating Nava Nowamooz 6-0, 6-1.

Kimbell and Fisher won in girls doubles over Katie Anderson and Allison Iler 6-0, 6-0 while Kelli Hine, who hurt her shoulder in that doubles teamed with Fieldsend to slam Lauren Bender and Hope Johnson 6-0, 6-1. Lauren May and Monique Melton made it a doubles sweep by beating Alexia Karpen and Nava Nowamooz 6-2, 6-1. Harrison and Sam Adams teamed up to win mixed doubles over Sebastian Karpen and Katie Davis 6-2, 6-0.

The Unicorns managed four boys singles wins and won one boys doubles for the final score.

Matt Dooley beat Amir Rahbar 6-2, 7-5 while Tanner Brown defeated Michael Riechmann 6-2, 7-5. Harrison Adams beat Christian Vieira 6-2, 6-3 while Tucker Brown defeated Stefan Lemire 7-6 (4), 6-2.

In doubles only the first tandem of Dooley and Brown were victorious as they defeated Amir Rahbar and Michael Riechmann 6-3, 6-4.

The Unicorns meet a surprising Klein team that rallied from their early five match deficit to win on their sixth girls player.

New Braufnels and Klein will play today at 9 a.m. in the Class 5A championship.