Dohee Lee, Andover teammates claim another 5A girls tennis crown (+video)

VALLEY CENTER — As Andover girls tennis coach Jessica Dibble weighed the possibilities of her team winning its third straight Class 5A title, she focused in on the Trojans’ doubles teams.

Andover got expected points in singles as junior Dohee Lee won her third 5A title by beating teammate Grace Ball for the second time 6-7 (6), 6-0, 6-0 on Saturday.

But with Bishop Carroll challenging Andover, as usual, the Trojans needed more than singles.

They got it, and Andover won 5A . Caitlyn White and Robyn Fritze beat teammates Addy Maples and Madi Hearne 6-2, 6-1 in the third-place match.

“They both got to the semifinals, they beat big teams they’ve lost to previously this season,” Dibble said. “They fought so hard and they had the belief, and they wanted it with that fire. I couldn’t be prouder. Because of them and how they stepped up is truly why we won state.”

Carroll finished second for the third straight season, while Arkansas City was third.

Carroll’s senior doubles team of Nicole Lubbers and Breckyn Steven won their first title. They beat Ark City’s Kelsie Burr and Chassidy Weathers 6-0, 6-3.

It was Lubbers’ and Steven’s second season playing together. They finished second last season.

“I remember the moment we walked off the court last year, Breckyn was on the verge of tears because we worked so hard to not win it,” Lubbers said. “… We had such a drive to get to the finals.”

Carroll’s Natalie Lubbers was third in singles, beating Shawnee Heights’ Madison Lysaught 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

All of the Trojans played their final matches next to each other. But as the third-place doubles match ended, the intense singles title match continued.

Lee and Ball played a first set that lasted about 90 minutes. The pair have played each other frequently, with Lee winning each time.

Ball trailed 3-1 but she came back to take the lead and force a tiebreaker by moving with ease around the court to get to most shots.

“That’s my game,” Ball said. “Having the good defense and finding the right opportunities to go on offense.”

Dibble was pleased with how her sister played.

“Grace came out and she was playing fearless. You could really tell she was playing her differently than usual,” Dibble said. “She feels it’s normal to lose to Dohee.… The first set was such a high.”

As Ball came down from that high, Lee started to dominate. Ball’s frustration was obvious and her fatigue showed as her returns went into the net or landed just out of bounds.

“I was trying to fight back, trying to play more intense and attack,” Lee said. “Instead of hitting back, I attacked more. I ran more, trying to pump myself up by saying, ‘I can do it, I can do it.’ ”

Lee’s response is what Dibble expects to see.

“Dohee, you can never count her out,” Dibble said. “She fights really, really hard, until the very end. She wants it, even when she’s up 5-0. She’s digging even deeper.”

Team totals – 1. Andover 60, 2. Carroll 47, 3. Arkansas City 25, 4. (tie) Lansing, Shawnee Heights 18, 6. Kapaun 17, 7. (tie) Emporia, Salina Central 11, 9. St. James Academy 10, 10. Great Bend 9, 11. Salina South 8, 12. Goddard 5, 13. (tie) Topeka Seaman 4, Pittsburg 4, 15. (tie) Eisenhower 1, Maize 1, Aquinas 1, Valley Center 1

Singles – 1. Dohee Lee, Andover, dec. Grace Ball, Andover, 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-0. 3. Natalie Lubbers, Carroll, dec. Madison Lysaught, Shawnee Heights, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. 5. Ashley Debauge, Emporia, dec. Catherine Rieke, St. James Academy, 9-1. 7. Macy Moyers, Great Bend, dec. Brittany Steven, Carroll, 9-4. 9. Katie Rathjen, Lansing, dec. Madison Foster, Shawnee Heights, 9-5. 11. Sydney LeFevre, Goddard, dec. Brittany McBride, Ark City, 9-3. Semifinals – Lee, Andover, dec. Lysaught, Shawnee Heights 6-1, 6-2; Ball, Andover, dec. Lubbers, Carroll, 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles – 1. Nicole Lubbers-Breckyn Steven, Carroll, dec. Kelsie Burr-Chassidy Weathers, Arkansas City, 6-0, 6-3. 3. Caitlyn White-Robyn Fritze, Andover, dec. Addy Maples-Madi Hearne, Andover, 6-2, 6-1. 5. Carmen Mindt-Eleanor Baldwin, Kapaun, dec. Mandi Petros-Rachel Long, Lansing, 9-5. 7. Sydney Kossow-Jera Richardson, Salina Central, dec. Jessica Coleman-Quinn Munk, Salina South, 9-5. 9. Brayden Steven-Jamie Willis, Carroll, dec. Kelly House-Audrey Arterburn, Kapaun, 9-4. 11. Hannah Klassen-Bailey Benton, Ark City, dec. Sarah Knight-Shyanne Osterhaus, 9-7. Semifinals – Burr-Weathers, Arkansas City, dec. White-Fritze, Andover, 6-3, 6-2; Lubbers-Steven, dec. Maples-Hearne, Andover, 6-0, 6-0.