High school tennis: Auburndale girls finish 3A state runner-up

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS — Auburndale accomplished its first goal of the state tournament by winning its first match on Monday morning, but the victory left the Bloodhounds wanting more.

And more they got.

The Bloodhounds dominated its state semifinal match on Tuesday morning to surge into the final, before their state run finally came to an end.

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas swept Auburndale, 5-0, in the championship match of the 2023 FHSAA Class 3A Girls Tennis State Championships at Sanlando Park.

It was the first loss of the season for the Bloodhounds, who became the second Polk County girls team to finish state runner-up in three years. McKeel finished 2A runner-up in 2021.

"I'm extremely happy," senior Peyton Battilla said. I would have never imagined to be in the state finals in tennis. But has (head coach) Kevin (Mulling) has been saying, we shocked the world. It showed Auburndale can hold its own."

The makeup of each team was different as it was a battle between athletes vs. tennis players. Three of Aubundale's top five singles players played soccer. The No. 1. McKenna Battilla and No. 2 Peyton Battilla were first team, all-county selections. McKenna played in a club soccer tournament over the weekend, and soccer for them and No. 4 Madison Newbern is their No. 1 sport. No. 5 player Ali Spencer had played soccer until she sustained a knee injury and gave it up two years ago.

After making a playoff run in soccer, going further and playing for a state title in tennis was especially rewarding.

More: Auburndale girls cruise into final four at state tennis

More: Battilla sisters lead Auburndale girls back to state tournament

"It's such a privilege to be out her, knowing you work so hard and just to see all that work come to life," Newbern said. "None of us thought we could get this far. Our goal was to get past the first round, but to get this far with girls I love so much and care about, it's great. I could not ask for anything better."

When the match was clinched, McKenna was still playing her No. 1 singles match as she could have continued and play for a state title had she won. Although soccer is her No. 1 sport, she has played juniors tennis and had played her opponent from St. Thomas Aquinas, losing in a tiebreaker.

"I came into it knowing it wasn't going to be an easy match," McKenna said. "I knew I was going to have to fight for it."

Despite an early lead in the first set and playing even early in the tiebreaker, McKenna fell short. St. Thomas Aquinas' Chloe Fouhety, 5-3, 3-5, 10-4. Because of weather concerns, the matches were played to four points instead of six, and players could win by one point after deuce instead of two points.

The loss left McKenna with mix emotions.

"I'm definitely excited," McKenna said. "The rest of the team is excited, so I want to stay with that even though we didn't get the outcome we wanted, but it is disappointing. I played my best, but that girl is just a really good player. I could have been more consistent."

McKenna made some incredible returns, using her athleticism to get to shots that appeared to be winners. However, in the end, Fouhety controlled the final points of the match, hitting winners or forcing tough shots.

"McKenna, she trains three days a week for an hour," Peyton said. "That girl lives in an academy and trains seven days a week for five hours. The fact that she hung on to that was insane."

Peyton started slow but got stronger before falling to Isabella Freitas, 4-0, 4-2. Samantha Meyer defeated Newbern, 4-1, 4-2.

Auburndale No. 3 singles player Camila Guilarte was leading her match when it was called after the Raiders clinched. Earlier, Ali Spencer lost at No. 5 singles while the doubles matches were being played. The Raiders swept both matches to take a 3-0 lead.

Auburndale began the day by defeating Ponte Vedra, 5-1. McKenna defeated Isabella Toby, 4-1, 4-1, Peyton defeated Amy Cox, 4-1, 4-1, and Guilarte defaced Ashley Larger, 4-1, 4-1. Newbern's match did not finish, and at No 5, Rachel Marino defeated Spencer, 4-0, 5-4 (7-5).

Both of Auburndale's doubles teams won.

That win put the Bloodhounds into the title match, guaranteeing that they would finish at least second in the state.

"If you told me before the season runner-up, I would have taken it," Mulling said. " We knew we were good. You just don't know how it's all going to come together."

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: High school tennis: Auburndale girls fall to St. Thomas Aquinas in final