CARY — One of the longest matches in the history of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state women’s tennis tournament championships decided the 1-A singles title on Saturday at the J.W. Isenhour Indoor Tennis Center at North Carolina State.

Jordan Jackson of Mount Airy, last year’s singles runner-up, and Alice Huang of Durham’s North Carolina School of Science and Math battled for the championship in a three-set match that lasted a whopping four hours and 48 minutes before Jackson prevailed 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2.The first set itself lasted an incredible two and a half hours.

After splitting sets, Jackson raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set before Huang held serve and then broke Jackson’s serve to cut it to 5-2. Then Jackson broke back, winning the game at love, to clinch the title. 

The doubles championship went to East Montgomery’s Delana Hinson and Samantha Kellis as they defeated Elizabeth Dinkins and Jade Hughes of Mount Airy 6-4, 7-5. Hinson and Kellis finished second in last year’s state tournament.

Dinkins and Hughes actually led in both sets, including a 3-0 lead in the second set, but each time East Montgomery came storming back.

The first day’s matches were played at the Cary Tennis Center, but a heavy rain overnight moved the championship matches from outdoors to the indoor courts at North Carolina State University.

 

Singles–Championship

Jordan Jackson (Mount Airy) def. Alice Huang (NC School of Science and Math) 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles–Championship

Delana Hinson-Samantha Kellis (East Montgomery) def. Elizabeth Dinkins-Jade Hughes (Mount Airy) 6-4, 7-5.