The Fairfield girls tennis team took a commanding step toward a state tournament appearance, sweeping Camanche 5-0 in the Class 1A Region 1 semifinals on Wednesday to advance to Saturday’s regional championship match.
The #4 Trojans, now 11-0 on the season, will face #8 Central DeWitt (9-2) at home Saturday, September 27th at 10 a.m. for a coveted state tournament berth. Central DeWitt also has a doubles team that qualified for state. The Sabers will bring their own state tournament aspirations to Fairfield’s home courts.
Fairfield showcased their depth and talent with strong performances throughout their lineup. Senior Poojita Mukadam set the tone with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over Evalyn Vogel at the number one position, displaying the form that has made her one of the region’s top players.
Ria Ross matched Mukadam’s dominance at number three, defeating Emily Butt 6-0, 6-0, while Sriya Yammanur controlled her match at number four beating Jenae Matyasse 6-1, 6-0.
The most dramatic finish of the day came in a pair of three-set matches that concluded within seconds of each other. At number five, Mareyn Dunkin rallied from an early deficit to defeat Emma Smith 2-6, 7-5, 10-6, clinching the team victory for Fairfield.
Simultaneously, Natalie Steele was battling through her own three-set marathon at number two, ultimately prevailing over Cheyenne Tucker 6-7(4-7), 6-0, 10-8. Though Steele’s match technically didn’t count toward the team score since Dunkin’s victory had already secured the 5-0 sweep, both players finished their matches within approximately 10 seconds of each other in a thrilling conclusion to the semifinals.
Faeven Gebremariam completed the sweep with a solid 6-2, 6-0 victory over Braylee Hermann at number six.
Head coach Travis Dunkin was pleased with his team’s performance while acknowledging the challenge that lies ahead Saturday.
“The girls all came ready to play. We know every team at this point will be a battle. Having the mental toughness to know it’s not going to be easy, take it point by point,” Dunkin said. “Mareyn and Natalie both showed resilience after dropping their first set to battle back and take it in three. This was Mareyn’s second singles match since August 21st and for her to be able to come back and win was a huge confidence boost for her as we move to Saturday. And Natalie to be battle tested after dropping a tough first set tiebreaker to keep her composure and poise to battle back will pay dividends not only for Saturday but also as she heads into individual state.”
Dunkin emphasized the significance of reaching the regional finals, especially with the opportunity to play at home.
“It’s a huge accomplishment. This is where we made it last year when we ran into Xavier. So hopefully this year we can get it done and get that state banner,” he said. “We get to host it at home so that’s a huge bonus – the girls get to sleep in more and have family, friends, and the rest of the team to come and cheer them on. It’ll be extra special to get the state banner on our home courts.”
Looking ahead to Central DeWitt, Dunkin knows his team faces a formidable opponent.
“Central DeWitt is a well-coached team and they are good. Anyone you play at this stage has earned it and will be a tough opponent,” Dunkin noted. “Based on their roster they have four returning varsity players that we played last year. Looking forward to a great matchup. We’re going to have to keep our mind focused on the task at hand and go point by point.”
Last season, Fairfield beat Central DeWitt in the regional semifinals in the tightest contest possible with a 5-4 victory before falling to Xavier in the regional finals.
For Fairfield, the opportunity represents the culmination of a perfect regular season and the chance to make program history. The Trojans have dominated their competition throughout the fall, and Saturday’s match will determine whether that success translates into a state tournament berth for the team.
Saturday’s regional championship match begins at 10 a.m. at Fairfield’s home courts, with the winner earning the right to compete in the state tournament. Come out and support the girls!
