BURLINGTON — Charlotte Catholic moved up a classification to 3-A for this year, but the results were the same for its doubles team in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A women’s tennis championships at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Tennis Center on Saturday.

Caroline Kuttner and Alley Leahy, the second-seeded pair, won the doubles championship in a tough three-set match, outlasting Erin Hosterman and Rebecca Rhoney of Hickory St. Stephens 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

This is Catholic’s first year in the 3-A classification, as realignment is done every four years. Last year the Catholic team of Liz Trans and Jenna Siskey took the doubles crown in the 2-A classification.

Hosterman and Rhoney had ousted the top seeds, Emily Carriel and Sara Fender of Gastonia Forest View, in a grueling three-set morning semifinal, 1-6, 6-4, 6-0.

In singles, top-seeded Emily Mauser of Hickory advanced to the finals but fell to Cameron Chatman of Jamestown Ragsdale by a count of 7-5, 6-0. It was the third consecutive year that Mauser has been the 3-A runner-up in singles and it was the fifth straight year that a player from the city of Hickory (either Hickory or St. Stephens) has been the second-place singles finisher.

Chatman avoided unforced errors in the championship match after an impressive 6-1, 6-0 victory over athletic Winnie Quick of Greensboro Dudley in the semifinals.

Wendy’s and Ford are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2005 WOMEN’S STATE 3-A TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Burlington Recreation and Parks Tennis Center, Burlington

Saturday’s Results

Singles—Semifinals

Emily Mauser (Hickory) def. Lauren Sessoms (Belmont South Point) 6-0, 4-6, 6-1;Cameron Chatman (Jamestown Ragsdale) def. Winnie Quick (Greensboro Dudley) 6-1, 6-0.

Singles—Championship

Chatman (Ragsdale) def. Mauser (Hickory) 7-5, 6-0.

Doubles—Semifinals

Erin Hosterman-Rebecca Rhoney (Hickory St. Stephens) def. Emily Carriel-Sara Fender (Gastonia Forest View) 1-6, 6-4, 6-0; Caroline Kuttner-Alley Leahy (Charlotte Catholic) def. Nadia Crutchfield-Kiara Crutchfield (Jamestown Ragsdale) 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles—Championship

Kuttner-Leahy(Charlotte Catholic) def. Hosterman-Rhoney (St. Stephens) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.