BURLINGTON, N.C. — Raptors are no longer ancient history.
Research Triangle claimed its second consecutive N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A girls tennis dual team state championship at Burlington Tennis Center on Friday afternoon to forge some rather recent history for the Raptors.
The Raptors won the match 5-0 without having to play any doubles matches. The match concluded before the conclusion of the No. 1 singles match, meaning RT won each of the No. 2-6 singles bouts.
The title is RTHS’ second as a program with last season’s triumph marking a school first. Each victory has come over East Wilkes, which is now the back-to-back 2A runner-up. The dual team state championship drought continues for East Wilkes, which won its lone title in 2008.
Despite not finishing her No. 1 singles match, Research’s Victoria Zhou was named the championship MVP after winning the first set against Emerson Simmons, 6-3. Zhou led the second set 2-1 when it was called following RT’s fifth, championship-clinching win. She and No. 2 singles player Alexis Zhao won the 2A individual doubles state title last week.
The remainder of the matches were decided in straight sets. Those that claimed those victories were Zhao (No. 2), Savannah Shih (No. 3), Eliza Basch (No. 4), Avery Zao (No. 5), and Katherine Southern (No. 6).
Singles matches
No. 1 – Victoria Zhou (RT) led Emerson Simmons (EW) 6-3, 2-1No. 2 – Alexis Zhao (RT) defeated Lily Truitt (EW) 6-0, 6-1No. 3 – Savannah Shih (RT) defeated Jaylee Chambers (EW) 6-0, 6-0No. 4 – Eliza Basch (RT) defeated Elina White (EW) 6-1, 6-1No. 5 – Avery Zhao (RT) defeated Ava Truitt (EW) 6-0, 6-2No. 6 – Katherine Southern (RT) defeated Emma Testerman (EW) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles matches
No. 1 – DNPNo. 2 – DNPNo. 3 – DNP