Troy’s Esha Patel hits a backhand against Piqua in a doubles match at the Troy D-II sectionals Wednesday. Patel and Elizabeth Niemi and the Troy doubles team of Taima Rajab and Madailein Logan both advanced to the district tournament.
Troy’s Elizabeth Niemi hits a volley against Piqua in a doubles match Wednesday at Troy High School.
Troy’s Taima Rajab hits a volley against Butler in a doubles match at Troy High School.
Troy’s Madeilain Logan hits a forehand in a doubles match at Troy High School Wedneday.
Piqua’s Izzy King returns a serve against Troy’s Casey Rogers Wednesday at Troy City Park.
Piqua’s Hannah Pleasant hits a backhand return against Troy Wednesday in a doubles match at Troy High School
TROY — The Troy girl tennis team is headed back to the ATP Tennis Center near Kings Island.
Which brought a smile to coach Mark Goldner’s face Wednesday at the D-II tennis sectionals at Troy City Park and Troy High School.
Both Troy’s doubles teams advanced to Saturday’s semifinals, earning a berth at next week’s district tournament.
“We didn’t get to go last year,” Goldner said about a rare year when Troy wasn’t represented at district. “We have two doubles teams going this year. I am happy about that. I don’t think any of these kids have been to the ATP Tennis Center, so it should be a great experience for them.”
Both doubles teams had little trouble Wednesday.
Elizabeth Niemi and Esha Patel, the second seeds, defeated Hannah and Grace Pleasant of Piqua 6-1, 6-1 and followed it with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Xenia in the go-to district match.
They will face an unseeded team in the semifinals.
Taima Rajab and Madailein Logan are the third seeds and they advanced with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Vandalia-Butler and a 6-3, 6-3 win over Stebbins.
They will face the top seed from Stebbins in the semifinals Saturday.
Play will being at 9 a.m. with D-I playing at the high school and D-II playing in the City Park.
“Both doubles teams played really well,” Goldner said.
But, they weren’t the only success for Troy.
In singles, unseeded Josie Romick nearly made it to the district tournament.
She defeated Cayce Jones of Xenia 6-0, 6-0 and Danielle Riggs of Butler 6-1, 6-1 before losing the go-to district match to second seed Kara Mays of Sidney 6-1, 6-2.
Casey Rogers opened singles play with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Izzy King of Piqua, before losing to Erin Kelsey of Northmont 6-0, 6-3.
Olivia Johnston lost to Allison Fultz of Sidney 6-3, 6-1.
“Josie Romick won two matches today,” Goldner said. “Casey (Rogers) beat the Piqua’s number one singles player. There were no disappointments today. Everyone played well.”
Also for Piqua, in singles Diya Patel lost to Leah Padgett of Xenia 6-1, 6-0 and Lauren Hicks lost to top seed Natalie Schoenherr of Vandalia-Butler 6-0, 6-0.
In another doubles match, Nataya Yagub and Sierra Leonard lost 6-0, 6-2 to Stebbins.
