One of four returning members for Notre Dame's 2015 state champion girls' tennis team, Sarah Faith Ingell did not want to start the third set of her No. 1 singles match in the Class A/AA sectional showdown Thursday against Collegedale Academy.
Standing just off the hardcourt surface at the Champions Club, Ingell spent the few minutes between sets rooting for teammate Bowie Strozak to close out her match and secure a return trip to state tournament for the Lady Irish. Strozak spotted Ingell one court over and proceeded to finish her straight-set victory and secure a 4-0 defeat of Collegedale Academy.
Ingell was not finished as an interested spectator, however, as she remained around the courts to witness a moment in school history as the Notre Dame boys battled Hixson. When the No. 1 doubles team of J.R. Davis and Andrew Lisy captured the final point in their match, the Irish's 4-2 victory gave Notre Dame two state team berths in the same year.
Both Notre Dame teams can now make travel plans for next week's TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
"I was really hoping that Bowie would win before I had to go back out there. I was even keeping score," Ingell said. "I had my racket in my hand and I was ready to go back out, but then Bowie came through with the win.
"I also wanted to see how the boys were doing in their match. They saw us win the state last year, and I think that may have helped them this year."
Lisy did play a third set in his No. 2 singles match with Hixson's Carl Phillips, knowing he had a chance to secure the clinching fourth point for his team. Phillips prevailed, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, but Lisy returned to the court confident that he and Davis would lock down the state tournament berth.
"Right after the singles loss, I changed my focus completely," said Lisy, who with Davis has lost only once in doubles this season. "We knew from the start we were going to be aggressive, and we were.
"For the last two years, the girls have gone to the state and the boys have gotten stopped at region," he added. "But this year we have a very solid team and we had our mind set on getting a state championship. We're motivated and we're just taking it one match at a time."
In addition to Strozak, Mary Margaret Haywood, Jessica Moore and Liza Davini earned singles victories for the Lady Irish (14-2), while Davis, Jonathan Polcari and Nick Cornis had singles wins for the Irish (12-3).
"I've never had both teams go to the state in the same year," said Notre Dame coach Nancy Fox. "It's wonderful and amazing. I've got a great group of kids and they work hard all the time. These teams have gotten along real well this season. It's two teams, but it's really like one team."
Contact Greg Thompson at sports@timesfreepress.com