Vandebilt wins state tennis crowns

In the movies, sequels are never as good as the original.

The rematch between Vandebilt teams Ruth and Jessica Bourque versus Michelle Lyons and Alexandra Bourgeois for the girls’ doubles state title yesterday was even better than last week’s three set battle in the regional.

The Bourque sisters survived being down a set and trailed throughout the second and third sets to win tiebreakers 2-6, 7-6 (6-4), 7-6 (7-5).

“Tennis is a lot more mental [than physical], and we just had to pull through in the end and get the last ball in,” said Ruth Bourque.

It was one of two victories that helped Vandebilt to the Class 4A boys and girls tennis crowns at the Renaissance Health and Racquet Club.

In the other Terriers victory, freshman Matt Spence came from behind in both sets to defeat Alexandria’s Jason Goen 7-5, 6-4 for the boys’ singles title.

“I just turned it on and kept my head up, and this is where it led me,” said Spence.

The Terriers claimed the boy’s crown compiling 12 points. Neville and Alexandra both earned six points, but Neville placed second because they had more finalists.

On the girls’ side, Vandebilt and Neville both scored 11 points, but Vandebilt had one more semifinalist, earning them the title. St. Michael placed third with three points.

“The key to the program is consistency,” said Vandebilt coach Kevin Ramirez. “For the last 10 to 12 years, we’ve been in the hunt. But two championships in one year, you can’t ask for anything better than that.”

Before Ruth, a senior, and Jessica, a freshman, even made to the finals, they had to endure a two-hour, three-set match that morning in the semifinals against Neville’s Elizabeth Meyers and Anna Raymond.

After losing the first set 3-6, they breezed to a 6-1 win in the second set. They trailed one point throughout the third set. Down 5-6, the sisters rallied to tie the match, then win the tiebreaker 7-6 (7-5).

Lyons and Bourgeois had considerable easier semifinals against Vandebilt teammates Julie Cronan and Lindsay Walker, winning 6-3, 6-1 in less than an hour.

In the finals, Lyons and Bourgeois used their fresher legs to overwhelm the Bourque sisters to a 6-2 win in the first set. They led throughout the second set before the sisters rallied for a 7-6 (6-4).

Just like the semifinals, the Bourques trailed by a point throughout the third set until it was 5-6. With Lyons and Bourgeois one point from the title, their returns became more cautious and the Bourques took full advantage to tie the set 6-6, forcing a tiebreaker.

“We both just went mental,” said Lyons of herself and Bourgeois. “They turned it up and they definitely starting playing more aggressively. They really took over.”

The tiebreaker was evenly fought, but the Bourques finally landed more quality shots for the 7-6 (7-5) victory.

“They are classic examples of, they’re going to keep digging, keep fighting, keep starching, and they’re going to do what it takes to win,” said Ramirez

“My legs are killing me, but we had to pulled through it,” said Ruth.

“Whenever it counts for something, there’s more pressure on you,” said Lyons. “I guess we just choked, but we loss to great doubles team.”

Lyons, a senior, was nearly inconsolable after the heartbreaking loss. She pulled herself together by time the awards ceremony arrived.

“I guess I just wanted it really bad; it hurts twice as much,” she said. “It just felt good to get to the state finals — never done that before. That’s why it was hard I guess.”

The victory was especially sweet for the 2007 state runner-up.

“Last year, we made the finals and we lost after being up a set and four games,” said Ruth. “That was our motivation to get that back.”

Spence’s comeback victory was not as dramatic, but every bit as thrilling to watch.

Down 4-5 in the first set and 3-4 in the second, Spence used long rallies and hard crafty shot placement for the 7-5, 6-4 win over Goen.

“It’s just all this hard work from the start of practice at the beginning of the year just all comes down to this,” he said. “I can’t believe I won and I’m ecstatic.”

Emotions began to get to Spence when he was one point away from the championship. He managed to regain his composure long enough to finish off Goen.

Afterward, the tears cascaded down his face as he hugged parents, family members, teammates, coach Ramirez, and anyone in his near vicinity.

“It just all came out; I couldn’t help it,” he explained.

“[In] 19 years, I’ve never seen a kid erupt like that, in a positive manner,” said Ramirez. “I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place, including mine.”

With three years of high tennis ahead of him, this could be the beginning of a long Spence reign in Class 4A.

“I’m looking forward to it, definitely,” he said.

Vandebilt is losing seven players from its gold team to graduation, including Ruth Bourque and Michelle Lyons. While he will miss them Ramirez doesn’t expect to fall off any time soon

“We kind of take the Florida State approach in football: We don’t rebuild; we reload,” he explained.

Other Class 4A finals action, Neville junior Sidney Bruscato defeated teammate Anna Hegyi 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 for the girls’ singles championship.

“It’s hard whenever you play friends,” Bruscato said. “We’re both really good players.”

Hegyi, a junior, is an exchange student will return Hungary after the school year. Bruscato plans to defend her title next year.

In the boys’ doubles final, Joey Bacala and Jeff Szolis of McKinley defeated Neville’s Ben Blanchard and Aaron Rosenberg 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 for the title.

Vandebilt wins state tennis crowns