Notre Dame girls doubles team finishes fourth at state

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Notre Dame senior Carly Hopkins said she's been asked numerous times on whether or not she'll be sad that her stellar high school tennis career was going to be over this weekend.

Now that it's over, Hopkins said it's somewhat bittersweet.

"But it is a lot more sweet than bitter," Hopkins said.

Hopkins finished her career on the podium at the Cooper Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The podium is not an unfamiliar place for Hopkins, but the spot on the podium was different.

Hopkins followed up three seventh-place finishes in Class 1 doubles with a fourth-place finish this season.

"I needed a new number," Hopkins said. "And I am definitely happy with fourth."

Hopkins, the No. 1 singles player with the Bulldogs for all four years, played with her third different doubles partner at state this year. She teamed with Regan Kapp as a freshman and sophomore and Maddie Walker last year.

This year, sophomore Grace Powderly was her partner, and they earned their spot on the podium with a pair of victories in the first two rounds Friday.

Hopkins and Powderly breezed to a first-round victory as they defeated Whitney Wiehe and Abby Rinker of Mount Vernon, 6-1, 6-0.

They followed with another straight set victory as they defeated Abby Dowden and Catherine Conley of Helias Catholic, 6-2, 6-4.

That loss proved to be the only one of the tournament for the Helias team, which came back through the back draw to win the consolation championship.

The pair fell in the semifinals to Barstow's Janie King and Amelia Smith, 6-1, 6-2. King and Smith went on to win the Class 1 state title with a three-set win over Kiki Peters and Maddy Duncan of John Burroughs.

Hopkins and Powderly went three sets in the third-place match before falling to Caroline Rooney and Ellison Rooney of Pembroke Hill.

"It was amazing to play high school tennis," Hopkins said. "I was happy to play all four years. I have so many good memories, and it was so much fun to finish the year at this tournament."

She was able to share her good times with three different partners, including Powderly, who played No. 2 singles with the Bulldogs this fall.

"Carly gave me an overview of what to expect here," Powderly said. "It was helpful to have someone like her, and I thought she played great. I didn't expect to do this well. It was a great experience."

St. Louis area players dominated the Class 2 portion of the tournament. They won the singles championship with Caroline Pozo of Lafayette and the doubles title with Lindbergh's Kat Rosenberger and Catherine Rosenberger. Pozo capped off her second consecutive undefeated season. St. Louis players also finished second and third in singles (Ellie Burger of St. Joseph's was second and Elena Wilner of Parkway Central was third).

Kansas City players won both titles in Class 1. Yurie Heard of Pembroke Hill defended her singles title while Janie King and Amelia Smith of Barstow won the doubles title.