Katilyn Grossman hasn’t lost at No. 4 for Albemarle girls tennis all season long.
With the Patriots needing her to win to close out a Northwest Region quarterfinal match with Forest Park Monday afternoon, she didn’t let that trend change with the Patriots facing the prospect of going to doubles. .
In the process, Albemarle won 5-1 and advanced to the Northwest semifinals, one win away from a state tournament berth.
Grossman closed the door on the win with a hard fought 6-4, 7-5 victory over Morgan McCombs.
“She may not overly impress with this or that or her serve,” said Albemarle coach Rich Lindsay. “But she hits balls by you and she doesn’t give you an inch as far as her athleticism so girls have had to beat her which has been hard to do all season.”
Maddie Williamson, Callie Murray, Caroline Chisholm and Molly Napolitano all picked up wins to stake the Patriots to a 4-1 lead. Napolitano closed out her match at 6-0, 6-1 and Chisholm won 6-1, 6-1. Murray and Williamson only had slightly more trouble, with Murray winning 6-2, 6-3 and Williamson rolling 6-1, 6-2.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty so you control what you can,” Lindsay said. The sooner we win a match, the better I am.”
The victory vaults the Patriots into the Northwest Region semifinals,
Albemarle 5, Forest Park 1
Northwest Region Tournament Quarterfinals
Singles
1. Rachel Halinski(FP) d. Alison Henry 6-1, 6-1
2.Callie Murray(A) d. Meera Doshi 6-2, 6-3
3. Caroline Chisholm(A) d. Serena Burgess 6-1, 6-0
4 Katilyn Grossman(A) d. Morgan McCombs 6-4, 7-5
5.Molly Napolitano(A) d. Tiffany Snyder 6-0, 6-1
6. Maddie Williamson(A) d. Theresa Hoang 6-1, 6-2
