A.C. Flora No. 1 Emily Smith rips a backhand in her match against Daniel’s Helena Billinis.
Editor’s Note: Please forgive all the references to the ’80s alternative rock band, The Smiths. Mike couldn’t help himself.
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The A.C. Flora Falcons raced to a 3-0 lead against the visiting Daniel Lions and appeared on the brink of another easy playoff victory, but the Lions had other thoughts turning this Upper State Championship match Tuesday, November 4 into quite a battle.
Daniel fought back to win two singles matches and was neck-and-neck at No. 2 doubles, but then the Smiths took over for A.C. Flora.
“There is a light that never goes out” for the Falcons and that’s sisters Emily and Catherine Smith at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.
Catherine had dispatched Julia Wolin 6-0, 6-0, and Emily beat Helena Billinis 6-0, 6-4. Senior Liza Stavrou had also downed Daniel No. 5 Anna Siemens 6-1, 6-1 for the 3-0 lead. However, Daniel No. 3 Halle Wolin fought back after losing the first set to Carlyn Guffee 6-2 to win the second set 6-3 and a third set, 10-point tiebreak 10-6. Berkley Garrett followed that with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5 win over A.C. Flora No. 4 Ruby Cecchini, prompting some Falcon fans to possibly pray, “Please, please, please let me get what I want.”
A.C. Flora No. 5 Liza Stavrou hits a backhand return in her match against Daniel’s Anna Siemens.
Enter the Smiths at No. 1 doubles.
“I was just really proud because we’ve never played No. 1 doubles this whole season,” Catherine said. “I feel like a lot of pressure was on us, but (head coach) Amy (Martin) said, before we went on, ‘You did your job the first time, you can do it again.’”
Emily and Catherine dominated Billinis and Julia Wolin winning 6-1, 6- 0. The final point was typical of the match as Catherine saved an overhead from Wolin, and Emily chased down a volley and chipped a cross-court winner to give the Falcons the decisive fourth victory.
“We were really excited to play,” Emily said. “I mean going out we were nervous, but we were really excited because this is the first time we’ve really played doubles this season. So, it was fun getting to play with her and having the momentum the whole time. And then that last point, it secured our win, so it felt really good.”
A.C. Flora No. 2 Catherine Smith lunges to return a shot against Daniel’s Julia Wolin.
Even though the match was in hand, No. 2 doubles kept on playing. The Falcons’ Ella Foley and Stokely Haile found themselves down 6-5 in the first set to Daphne Turber and Mikala Cheek, but they came back to win 7-6 taking a tiebreaker 8-6. Then Foley and Haile were down 5-3 in the second set before winning the last four games to claim a 7-5 win and give A.C. Flora a 5-2 victory.
Martin, as coach of both the A.C. Flora girls and boys teams, returns for the 14th time “back to the old house” known as the state championship match.
“I wish I could say it’s the same, but each time it’s just a little bit sweeter,” Martin said of her latest trip to the finals. “Because each team is so different with their own wonderful girls, and you learn something and you grow. Each team is very special.”
“How soon is now?” Well, the Falcons will face the Gray Collegiate War Eagles in the 4A State Championship match Saturday, November 8 at 10 a.m. at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. “This charming man” plans to be there for all the action.
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