The Soddy-Daisy girls' tennis team made history for the program this season, earning a region title after a district championship. The Lady Trojans learned Thursday, though, that there's still a long way they could go.
Their season ended in a Class AAA state sectional match, as they lost 4-1 to Siegel at Middle Valley Park. The Lady Stars advance to the state final four, while Soddy-Daisy's best season finished at 15-3.
Adriana Peckinpaugh earned the Lady Trojans' win at No. 5 singles.
Siegel's Ashlee Boles, the 2012 state singles champion, won at No. 1 singles and with Marissa Kovach in doubles. The Lady Stars' other win came from Jacquelyn Leeman and Ragen White at No. 2 doubles.
Soddy-Daisy coach Lorri Johnson had hoped for a win at No. 1 doubles, where Region 3-AAA runners-up Alex Schafer and Aubrey Casey play, but they fell 8-0 to Boles and Kovach. Chloe Mitchell and Abigail Ellis stayed within striking distance in the second doubles match before finally succumbing.
"We now have a foundation to build on," Johnson said. "The players we have coming back have committed to play over the summer. Knowing the history of Siegel, there were some spots we figured we wouldn't win at, but we still had chances elsewhere."
• The Chattanooga Christian girls advanced to the Class A/AA state tournament with a 4-0 victory over Boyd-Buchanan. The Lady Chargers (13-1) received wins from Ellie and Hannah Henry, Gracie Smith and Caraline Redburg.
The Lady Bucs (16-2) finished their season at 16-2 and will have senior Katie Delay playing in next week's A/AA individual state tournament.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.