Faith Academy tennis takes third at state tourney
The 2015 Faith Academy of Marble Falls tennis team includes Ariel Blaylock (front row, left), Brandi Kuhlmann, Luke Hering, Clay Cozby; Sean Lavoie (back row, left), Alec Gonzales, Reagan Vaughn and Rich Coleman. Not pictured are Chase Muller, Matthew Weagant, Teresa Bennett and Nathaniel Moses. Courtesy photo
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
HEWITT — A state-champion boys doubles team, a silver medalist in girls singles and third place in boys doubles wasn’t enough to help Faith Academy of Marble Falls win the Class 2A state title in the overall team standings April 24.
The Flames finished third in the overall team standings at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools tournament.
In boys doubles, Faith bduo Reagan Vaughn and Rich Coleman are the state champions after winning four matches. Teammates Alec Gonzales and Luke Hering placed third.
In girls singles, Brandi Kuhlmann posted a 4-1 record for second.
Each Faith boys doubles team had to face the Isley brothers, the defending state champions, from New Braunfels Christian.
“I’m not disappointed,” Faith assistant coach Todd Still said. “We knew it was going to be a battle. Our guys played up to their potential. Sometimes you win, sometimes you come up on the short end of the stick. They did everything they went to go do. They did extremely well.”
When all the matches were finished, the Flames were tied with district rival Austin Veritas for second place.
Each team earned 16 total points and had to go to a tiebreaker to determine who left with the second-place trophy.
Faith and Veritas were tied with the same number of players in the semifinals, quarterfinals and sets won.
So they went to the fourth tiebreaker, where Veritas had won 77 games to Faith’s 76.
“It was razor thin,” Still said. “I’m absolutely thrilled with the way the kids played and the heart they gave. There were three teams so close. Somebody has to win.”
District foe New Braunfels Christian claimed the team title with 17 points without winning an individual gold medal in singles or doubles.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
RESULTS: Boys doubles— Reagan Vaughn/Rich Coleman def. Isley/Isley 6-4, 6-4 in the finals; def. Barns Schoendorf, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals; def. Cox/Jones 6-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinals; def. Chen/Keller 6-0, 6-0 in the round of 16. Alec Gonzales/Luke Hering lost to Isley/Isley 1-6, 0-6 in the semifinals; def. Hoefferber/Villalobos 6-2, 7-6 in the quarterfinals; def. Larson/Nelson 6-2, 7-5 in the round of 16.
Girls singles — Brandi Kuhlmann lost to Kemah Buck 1-6, 1-6 in the finals; def. Kellie Laviolette 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in the semifinals; def. Claire Quiring 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals; def. Brooke Howard 6-0, 6-0 in the round of 16.