A.C. Flora's No. 2 Shannon deLoach chips a backhand against J.L. Mann's Olivia Self. deLoach won her match 6- 1, 6- 3. On paper, the Upper State Championship between the J.L. Mann Patriots and the A.C. Flora Falcons at the Lexington County Tennis Complex Friday, November 7 was a bit of a mismatch. The Patriots came to Lexington as defending Upper State champions and had won a state championship in 2006. Mann number one singles player Maria Hesketh is one of the state's top players, and Olivia Self, at number two, qualified for last year's singles tournament. But A.C. Flora has a talented team, too, and the Falcons battled to the bitter end in every match.

It started early as A.C. Flora number two player Shannon deLoache dispensed with Self in under an hour beating her 6- 1, 6- 3, but it was two- and- a- half hours later before the Falcons would get another singles win.

Flora number three Lauren Teague won the first set against Lindsey Gregory, but could not hold on as Gregory won the second set 6- 2 and then dominated the third set tiebreaker 10- 1.

A.C. Flora's No. 1 Caroline deLoach serves against J.L. Mann's Maria Hesketh. de- Loach won the two- and- a- half hour match 5- 7, 7- 6, 10- 8. Julia Spong, Flora's number five player, was the next to fall. Emily Erickson beat her in another tight match 6- 4, 6- 4.

Flora's chances at an upset then took a major hit when Amanda Teague went down next to Abby Gregory 6- 2, 3- 6, 10- 2.

That left the number ones dueling in the most dramatic match of the contest. Hesketh took the first set against Flora's Carolina deLoach 7- 5. deLoach forced a second set tiebreaker and led 6- 5 in the tiebreaker when Hesketh, already nursing a sore wrist, lay down on the court in obvious pain from muscle cramps in her legs. She required assistance from a trainer and delayed the already two- hour long match ten minutes. When play resumed, deLoach promptly smacked a cross court winner that forced a deciding third set tiebreaker.

deLoach held an 8- 4 lead in the tiebreaker when Hesketh seemed to regain her earlier form knocking multiple powerful ground strokes. Hesketh won the next four out of five points to tighten the score at 9- 8. However, deLoach's patient strategy of just keeping shot after shot in play seemed to frustrate Hesketh and, eventually, caused an unforced error earning deLoach the match. The number two doubles match was already in progress when deLoach's win made the score 3- 2.

A.C. Flora's No. 3 Lauren Teague stretches for a backhand against J.L. Mann's Lindsey Gregory. Gregory won the match 2- 6, 6- 2, 10- 1. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the J.L. Mann team of Carly Chardukian and Grace Williams beat Carey Mears and Lauren Teague 6- 4, 6- 4 effectively ending the match.

The Patriots moved on to the final where they lost to Hilton Head 6- 1.

J.L. Mann 4, A.C. Flora 2

Upper State Championship • Lexington County Tennis Center • November 7, 2008

Singles: (1) Caroline deLoach (ACF) def. Maria Hesketh (JLM) 5-7, 7-6, 10-8; (2) Shannon deLoach (ACF) def. Olivia Self (JLM) 6-1, 6-3; (3) Lindsey Gregory (JLM) def. Lauren Teague (ACF) 2-6, 6-2, 10-1; (4) Abby Gregory (JLM) def. Amanda Teague (ACF) 6-2, 3-6, 10-2; (5) Emily Erickson (JLM) def. Julia Spong (ACF) 6-4, 6-4.

A.C. Flora's No. 4 Amanda Teague hits a running backhand against J.L. Mann's Abby Gregory. Gregory won the match 6- 2, 3- 6, 10- 2. Doubles: (2D) Carly Chardukian/Grace Williams (JLM) def. Carey Mears/Lauren Teague (ACF) 6-3, 6-4.

A.C. Flora's No. 5 Julia Spong hits a backhand against J.L. Mann's Emily Erickson. Erickson won the match 6- 4, 6- 4.