The dynamic duo cruised through the first three rounds of play at East Montgomery High School then had to overcome a one-set deficit to beat Gray Stone Day's Molly Peele and Caitlen Corbett in the title match 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.
As a reward, Fulp and Elmore will take the No. 1 seed from the West into this weekend's state tournament at the Cary Tennis Center. The pair were state runners-up last season.
"It was an amazing accomplish for Jessie and Bri to win this regional," East Wilkes coach Aaron Simmons said. "This tournament was loaded with great doubles teams, but Jessie and Bri rose to challenge and played at a very high level."
Rain proved a nemesis once again during the weekend, but the entire regional tournament was completed, unlike like last week's Northwest 1A tourney in Mount Airy.
Elmore and Fulp beat Anna McBee and Rebecca Lask of Jordan-Matthews 6-2, 6-1 for starters, then cruised past Olivia Schaoeff and Alice Calhoun of Hendersonville 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
This brought a rematch with East Montgomery's Myranda Blake and Danen Hinson in the semifinals.
The East Wilkes duo nearly lost to Blake and Hinson during Tuesday's dual-team playoff contest between the Cardinals and East Montgomery. They had to rally from 3-0, 6-4 and 7-5 deficits before prevailing 9-7.
But Elmore and Fulp had no problems this weekend, blanking their East Montgomery foes in the first set 6-0 and winning the second set 6-3.
Peele and Corbett of Gray Stone Day were the No. 3 seed for the tournament but knocked off No. 2 Ellie Case and Jordan Gwyn of Mount Airy 6-4, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Peele and Corbett did manage to knock off one East Wilkes doubles team during the weekend, beating Amber Jennings and Jessica Taylor 6-1, 6-1 in the opening round. But Fulp and Elmore exacted some revenge in the title match, recovering after dropping the first set.
East Wilkes singles player Lauren Stutts did her best to join Fulp and Elmore in the 1A state draw. She won her opening round match 6-1, 6-0 but lost to Mount Airy's Maggie McKee 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals, one step away from qualifying for state. McKee was the tournament's No. 3 seed in singles.
"I am very proud of the way all of my girls competed and honored that we had so many to qualify (five out of six starters)," Simmons said.
The top four doubles teams and top four singles players from the 1A West will advance to the state tournament, which starts at 10 a.m. on Friday in Cary. The championship matches are set for Saturday at 10 a.m.
Fulp and Elmore lost to a doubles tandem from the N.C. School of Science & Math in last year's 1A doubles title match, marking the first time tennis players from East Wilkes had ever made it that far.
The Cardinals are still alive in the dual-team tennis playoffs also. Coach Simmons' team will host Mount Airy in a 1A quarterfinal match Tuesday afternoon. The winner will face either North Stokes or Jordan-Matthews in the semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
East Wilkes beat Mount Airy 5-4 and 9-0 during the regular season (and swept North Stokes as well).
Topsail, Dixon, Spring Creek and Raleigh Charter are still alive in the 1A East bracket. The 1A dual-team state championship match will be Saturday, Nov. 1.
Post a Comment
