Coming off a Little Hawkeye Conference title last week, Pella Christian’s Ava Breems added to a fantastic senior tennis season on Wednesday by qualifying for the Class 1A State Singles Tennis Tournament in Waterloo.

Opening up the individual regional tournament hosted by Columbus Catholic as the #2 seed, Breems quickly defeated Isla Reed of Independence 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals. The senior reached the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Alivia Keegan of Union, but a delay ensued as rain entered the Waterloo area and led to the remainder of the tournament being moved indoors. In the semifinal match, Breems matched up with the #3 seed Natalie Beck from Waverly-Shell Rock and after dropping the first set 4-6, bounced back to win the next two sets 6-1, 6-3 to clinch a spot at State. 

Also competing at the tournament, the Eagles’ duo of Trinley Gibson and Chloe Nikkel won their first match 6-0, 6-2 over Addie Engel and Madison Martin of Union, before falling in the quarterfinals. Lexi Branderhorst in singles and Kate Braafhart and Elsa Breems also competed on Wednesday, but fell in their first matches of the day.

Ava will contend for the Class 1A State Singles Title at the Individual Tennis Tournament at Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center in Iowa City at 10 am on October 1st. The Pella Christian girls tennis team will now turn their attention to the team regional tournament, in which they will host Saydel in the first round on Saturday at 10 am.