Hoggard girls tennis wins first-ever dual team state championship

It was the third-set tiebreaker that seemingly had no end. 

After saving numerous match points and failing to convert on four of her own, sophomore Kenzie Le hit a backhand return for a winner to seal a thrilling 4-6, 6-1, 20-18 victory at No. 5 singles. 

Le had a hard time holding back tears as she was mobbed by her Hoggard teammates seconds after securing the fifth and clinching point in a 5-1 victory over Myers Park at the NCHSAA 8A Girls Tennis State Championship in Burlington.

The Vikings (19-1) avenged last year’s 5-0 defeat to the Mustangs and became the first public school from New Hanover County to claim a tennis dual team state title. 

Hoggard also became just the 14th program in the history of the NCHSAA to finish off the rare Tennis Triple Crown. Braelyn Roberson won the 8A singles state championship, while Zannah Roberson and Audrey Sica captured the 8A doubles state title last weekend. 

“Three championships later, the work speaks for itself,” Braelyn Roberson said.

Le easily won the second set to force a 10-point tiebreaker. After falling behind 9-4, she reeled off five consecutive points to even the score. Both players had multiple match points over the next 15 minutes before Le finally closed it out. 

“After I didn’t win my fourth match point, I yelled, ‘I can’t close it out!’, but I knew I couldn’t give up yet. I had to do my part for the team,” said Le, who was named the match MVP.

The lone senior on the roster, Audrey Sica, got the Vikings on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 3. 

Shortly after, Zannah Roberson added a second point with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 performance at No. 2. 

On court No. 1, Braelyn Roberson took down Lila Cheatwood for the second week in a row to make the score 3-1. The 8A individual singles state championship rematch finished up 6-2, 6-1. 

Despite battling a foot injury that kept her out most of the season, Zoe Ten Brink fought through and earned a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 4.

That set the stage for the dramatic conclusion. 

“It’s an amazing feeling to be the first tennis team at Hoggard to win a championship,” junior Allie Sauer said. “It shows that hard work, teamwork, friendship, and sportsmanship can all pay off for a common goal. We’re honored to serve as the team that made school history.”