NCHSAA SINGLES, DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS UP FOR GRABS THIS WEEKEND IN WOMEN’S TENNIS

CHAPEL HILL–Championships in singles and doubles in four different classifications are up for grabs this weekend as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association holds its annual women’s tennis tournament championships at four different sites.

Semifinalists in both singles and doubles at the regional level qualify for the state championships.

The 4-A championships are scheduled for the Millbrook Exchange Park in Raleigh, while the 3-A event will be held at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Tennis Center. The 2-A championships are set for the Cary Tennis Center and the 1-A tournament will be contested at Middle Creek High School in Apex.

Action will get underway in most classifications on Friday morning with the opening round of play at 9 a.m. Two rounds will be played on Friday, with the semifinals Saturday morning and the championship matches on Saturday afternoon. Since the field is smaller for the 1-A tournament, the only Saturday matches will be the championships Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Only the 2-A tournament at the Cary Tennis Center will have a slightly different schedule on Friday. Action there will begin immediately following the 11 a.m. coaches’ meeting as courts become available.

McKenna Karas and Kallie Karas of Waxhaw Cuthbertson will be seeking their second consecutive state championship in 2-A doubles. Grace Baker of Charlotte Myers Park is going for her fourth straight appearance in a 4-A singles championship, with a state title in 2008 to go with runner-up finishes last year and in 2007.

More tennis finals are scheduled for next week, as all four classes of the women’s dual team tennis championships will be held November 6 at the Burlington Tennis Center.

NCHSAA FastFacts

Event: NCHSAA Women’s Tennis Tournament Championships

Date: October 29-30, 2010

Site: 1-A: Middle Creek High School, Apex; 2-A: Cary Tennis Center; 3-A: Burlington Parks and Recreation Tennis Center; 4-A: Millbrook Exchange Park, Raleigh

First Held: 1970

Qualifiers: Semifinalists in both singles and doubles at the regional level qualify for the state events Of Interest: Laura Cowman of Charlotte Catholic (1989-92), Julianne Treme of Salisbury (1993-96), Jackie Houston of Kings Mountain (1993-96), Britney Cloer of Brevard and then West Henderson (2003-06) are all four-time NCHSAA women’s singles champions.