AHS girls state-bound

Published 12:02 am Thursday, April 19, 2012

Shown from L to R: AHS coach Daniel Bulger, Sarah Atkinson, Meredith Tillman, Susie Watson, Elizabeth Christienson, Anna Beth Bowden and Jennifer Botta. | Courtesy photo

Andalusia’s girls’ tennis team finished second at the Class 4A sectional tournament in Mobile Wednesday at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center.

The Lady Bulldogs will advance to play in the state tournament on April 26-27.

“We’re happy to be there,” AHS girls coach Daniel Bulger said. “We were kind of fortunate. We kind of dug ourselves in a hole in the singles in the first round.”

Andalusia won two singles matches when Anna Beth Bowden defeated Jackson; and Sarah Atkinson defeated Saraland. Both lost to UMS-Wright in the finals.

Atkinson and Jennifer Botta defeated Jackson in the semifinals in No. 1 doubles; and Meredith Tillman and Susie Watson defeated Saraland in No. 2 doubles. To qualify for the state tournament, the team had to win 2-out-of-3 matches in doubles.

“We’ve got about another week to get ready for the state tournament,” Bulger said. “We’re very fortunate. We had to win and they knew that. They came through when they had to. I’m proud of them for that.”

The boys team finished in third place, and came up short, falling to Saraland in doubles.

AHS boys coach Perry Dillard said it came down to a doubles match with SHS because they beat each other once in singles.

“They clinched by doing that,” he said.

Dillard said the team had a good year, especially since they finished the season with a 10-3 record.

“I’m just disappointed that we didn’t advance any further,” he said. “I’m really proud of my seniors — Jonathan Wiggins, Ellis Walker and Austin Shirey.”

Andalusia’s Chris Smith, Jackson Moore and Brandon Scruggs made it to the finals in singles, but got beat by UMS-Wright.

Wiggins and Moore made it to the finals in No. 3 doubles during the tournament.