Heathwood Hall No. 1 singles player Lauren Armstrong hits a forehand against Porter– Gaud’s Jeanette Fischer. The Heathwood Hall Highlanders were without their No. 2 player Caroline Lough in their 6–0 semifinal loss to Porter–Gaud in the SCISA 3A girls’ tennis playoffs Thursday, October 22.

“She would have made a difference because everyone had to bump up a position, but it really didn’t make that much difference ... we got clobbered,” Heathwood Hall head coach Dickie Anderson said after the match.

The Cyclones did dominate the SCISA 3A Region I champs from start to finish. Only Lauren Armstrong’s match with Porter Gaud No. 1 singles player Jeanette Fischer lasted more than an hour. Still it was a 6–0, 6–1 defeat for Armstrong.

Only Karson Kocher, playing at No. 2 singles, and Danielle Zurcher, playing at No. 5 singles, won more than two games in their matches.

Heathwood Hall No. 5 singles player Danielle Zurcher hits a backhand against Porter–Gaud’s Christina Connelly. Anderson said, “We’ve got a lot of young players, and they’ve got to play yearround to compete; Porter– Gaud and Ashley Hall understand that.”

Ashley Hall defeated Porter–Gaud in the finals on Saturday.

“It’s tough when you only have one tournament player,” Anderson said referring to Armstrong.

Despite that fact, the Highlanders continue to be one of the top programs in SCISA 3A. Since 2006, Heathwood Hall has reached the finals three times, winning it all in 2007.
Porter–Gaud 6
Heathwood Hall 0
Palmetto Tennis Center
Sumter, SC

Singles: Jeanette Fischer (PG) def. Lauren Armstrong (HH), 6-0, 6-1; Mi'Kola Cooper (PG) def. Karson Kocher (HH), 6-2, 6-1; Carissa Steichen (PG) def. Katherine Lough (HH), 6-1, 6-0; Annie Hay (PG) def. Elise McKelvey (HH), 6-0, 6- 1; Christina Connelly (PG) def. Danielle Zurcher (HH), 6-2, 6-1; Carlyle Williams (PG) def. Katie Beach (HH), 6-2, 6-0.