MASON - The opening day of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state girls tennis tournament was met with overcast skies and the possibility of moisture throughout the day. Thus when the drizzle began and matches became suspended, Friday's festivities were quickly moved indoors.
Division I action moved to the South Regency Tennis Club in Miamisburg, while Division II contestants made the drive to Five Seasons Sports Club on Snider Road.
District champion Shyla Aggarwal of Mason, last year's Division I state runner-up, moved on to championship day with wins over Hudson's Sunny Fan 6-1, 6-0 and a three-set thriller over St. Joseph Academy's Amara Brahmblatt, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
"It was two heavyweights hitting the ball," Mason coach Mike Reid said. "It looked like a final rather than a quarterfinal. They were both hitting every shot with everything they had."
Aggarwal agreed.
"That definitely should have been a semifinal or final match," she said. "It feels good to be back. It was really fun today. The atmosphere and everything was super nice."
That puts her against North Canton Hoover's Tess Bucher, who was fourth in state a year ago. Then Mason will bus near Columbus for Sunday's Ohio Tennis Coaches Association team tournament.
The other DI semi is Lily Black of Anthony Wayne vs. Ella Franz of Olentangy Berlin. Franz got by Turpin's Sarah Black to advance to Saturday play. Lily Black was third in 2020 defeating Bucher of North Canton Hoover in the consolation match.
More:Who boasts the best records in Cincinnati girls tennis before tournament draws?
Mason also sends a doubles team back for a title as senior Anna Tonkal/junior Risha Chada defeated Upper Arlington junior Ava Richard/senior Anna Leach 6-0, 6-3. The district runners-up team then faced Ellie Assemacher/Emma Nofziger of Toledo Notre Dame Academy in the quarterfinals, winning 6-3, 7-5.
"They both played very well," Reid said of his No. 1 doubles team. "Risha stepped up at the end of the match and hit some key volleys to seal the win and get them into the second day."
Said Chada, "My partner was doing great. Her serves were amazing. I started to go for some more volleys and I kept making them."
The Tonkal/Chada duo will square off with Kayra Koprulu/Carolina Moritz of Magnificat. The most experienced doubles team back for 2021 is Centerville's Clara Owen/Carolina Hinshaw who advanced to the state semifinals for a second straight year. The Centerville duo defeated Tonkal/Chada in the district final.
The rest of Friday's results
Division I singles
St. Ursula sophomore Emily Jennewein, the district runner-up lost in the opening round vs. Dublin Coffman junior Dasha Chirstyakova 6-2, 6-1.
Turpin sophomore Sarah Clark, who was third in the district meet, defeated Rocky River junior Samantha Robertson 6-2, 6-3 in her opening round match. She faced Ella Franz of Olentangy Berlin in the quarterfinals losing 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Division I doubles
Lakota West senior Molly Grace/sophomore Leah Schleibaum lost their initial match with Magnificat senior Audrey Smitek/sophomore Natalie Smitek, 6-1, 6-0.
Mason senior Danielle Reid/senior Danielle Lebedev lost 6-1, 6-0 to. Magnificat senior Kayra Koprulu/junior Caroline Moritz
Division II singles
Indian Hill freshman Carolina Brown beat Gahanna Columbus Academy sophomore Arya Chabria 7-6, 6-2 to advance to play Elena Fleming of Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in the quarters. Fleming advanced 6-0, 6-0.
Indian Hill sophomore Brooke Arington beat Toledo Ottawa Hills sophomore Catherine Rhegness 6-3, 6-1. Arington advanced to play Alexis Nyborg of Pepper Pike Orange in the quarterfinals. Nyborg, who was fourth in state last year, defeated Arington 4-6, 7-6, 6-0.
Division II doubles
Indian Hill sophomore Lexi Larsen/freshman Cassie Larsen made easy work against East Liverpool senior Sydney Cooper/senior Gianna Davis with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph. The district runners-up moved on to play Kate Mills/Allie Mills of Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown in the quarterfinals. but fell short 6-0, 6-1.
Lynn Kader and Payton Puryear, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy downed Elena Oliver/Anne Oliver of Bath 6-0, 6-1 to make the quarterfinals. The Eagles pair lost in the quarters to Grace Murphy/Mallory Hitchock of Eaton 6-2, 6-3.
Saturday's semifinals start at 9 a.m. back at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason.
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