Arts & Sciences sophomore Kayla Kelly established herself as a top volleyball and basketball player this year.
And playing in the top singles spot for the Lady Patriots tennis team, Kelly competes today in the Champions Club High School Classic tournament for a No. 1 singles titles and a No. 1 doubles championship with her older sister Albany.
For the A Division, singles finals begin this morning at 8:30 at Champions Club, and doubles semifinals will start at about 12:30 p.m. In the B division, round-robin matches resume at 8:30 a.m.
The University School of Nashville and McMinn County boys’ teams lead the A division after the first day tied with 43 points, followed by Rhea County with 39 and Ooltewah with 37. The Chattanooga Christian girls’ team is ahead with 49 points, while Walker Valley is second with 39 and Notre Dame is third with 35. CSAS, Cleveland and Red Bank are tied for fourth at 33.
Soddy-Daisy leads the boys’ B division and Rhea County is on top in the girls’ B competition, each with 11 points.
McMinn County’s Michael Hewgley will face off with USN’s Sreyas Reddy for the No. 1 singles crown in boys’ A, and McMinn’s Neal Baldwin plays USN’s Alex Metzman for the No. 2 championship. Notre Dame’s John Dorris and McMinn County’s George Pannell play for the No. 3 title.
For the girls’ A No. 1 championship, Kelly faces Ooltewah’s Caroline Denton, who has reached the TSSAA Class AAA state individual tournament twice. Kelly recalled twisting her ankle when playing Denton in middle school, then beating her in a match last year.
Albany Kelly is a senior who reached the TSSAA Class A/AA state tournament twice with CSAS alum Miriam Pate. The Kellys reached the No. 1 doubles semifinals of the tournament with an 8-0 first-round win over Cleveland’s Kelsey Cantrall and Catherine Jordan.
Kayla Kelly’s twin Ahmee advanced to the No. 2 doubles semifinals with partner Erin Mourier.
“It’s just really fun, but I’ll always miss playing with Miriam,” Albany Kelly said. “My sisters and I grew up playing together. Miriam and I had different styles, but it was like opposites attract. Kayla plays like me — we both attack and go after the ball.”
Added Kayla: “It’s always fun with Albany. I take whatever she says and do it, because she’s been there and I haven’t. She knows the doubles game better than anyone I know.”
