CUTHBERTSON TEAM EARNS SECOND STRAIGHT STATE DOUBLES CROWN

CARY — Defending doubles champions McKenna and Kalli Karas of Waxhaw Cuthbertson rallied from a set down to win their second consecutive state crown in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A women’s tennis tournament championships Saturday at the Cary Tennis Center.

The Karas sisters defeated Salisbury’s Joy Loeblein and Erika Nelson in the finals, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, after both teams had worn morning semifinals in straight sets. The Cuthbertson duo lost only four games in four sets in its two Friday victories.

Hillary Lutz of Shelby captured the singles championship with a 6-4, 6-0 triumph over Katelyn Storey of Salisbury. The eventual state champion ousted Kate Power of Kill Devil Hills First Flight in a semifinal Saturday morning.

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NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2010 STATE 2-A WOMEN’S TENNIS TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Cary Tennis Center–Saturday Results

SINGLES SEMIFINALS

Hillary Lutz (Shelby) def. Kate Power (Kill Devil Hills First Flight) 6-0, 7-6 (3); Katelyn Storey (Salisbury) def. Hannah Marion (Hillsborough Cedar Ridge) 6-2, 6-3.

SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Lutz (Shelby) def. Storey (Salisbury) 6-4, 6-0.

DOUBLES SEMIFINALS

Joy Loeblein-Erika Nelson (Salisbury) def. Claire Rinaldo-Anne Rinaldo (East Lincoln) 6-2, 6-3; McKenna Karas-Kalli Karas (Waxhaw Cuthbertson) def. Courtney Bowers-Lizzie Hanes (Ashe County) 6-1, 6-2.

DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP

M. Karas-K. Karas (Cuthbertson) def. Loeblein-Nelson (Salisbury) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.