Western Albemarle boys and girls tennis both made short work of Rock Ridge Saturday in the Class 4 state quarterfinals, with both Warriors squads coming up with 5-0 sweeps to secure a spot in the state final four.
The Western girls won 5-0 behind victories from Grace Nolasco, Amanda Bilchick, Lucy Evans, Alison Selverstone and Maddie Farmer. Farmer’s win was particularly impressive as she bounced back from a 6-1 loss in the first set with 6-2 and 6-3 wins to help seal the Warriors’ win.
Nolasco won 6-2, 6-1, Selverstone won 6-2, 6-2, Evans won 6-1, 7-5 and Bilchick won 6-1, 6-0. Austin Winslow, the Warriors’ No. 1, was in position to win after a 6-2 win in set one, a 6-3 loss in set two. She was leading 2-0 in set three when Western clinched the match.
The Western boys rolled in similar fashion. No. 1 Tobin Yates won 6-1, 6-2, Luke Kielbasa won 7-5, 6-0 at No. 2, Brader Eby won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3, Tanner Seagraves won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 and Charlie Miller won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6. Wade Sturman was in position at No. 4 singles when the Warriors clinched, up 2-1 in the third set after splitting 4-6, 6-1.
Both Western squads will face Blacksburg Monday in the state semifinals, with the girls’ state semifinal match starting at 2 p.m. and the boys scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.