The Pioneer girls’ tennis team won two of the four singles events and reached the finals in three of the four doubles events to rack up 32 points and net another Division 1 title at Saturday’s MHSAA State Finals in Holland.
Troy landed in second with 25 points followed by Clarkston (18), Novi (17) and Bloomfield Hills (17). Skyline netted 15 points to finish sixth. Huron finished with four points.
The Pioneers won the title with only one senior on the court – Juliana Pullen, the winner at three singles.
Tom Pullen, Juliana’s grandfather, said a talented and balanced lineup in both singles and doubles helped the Pioneers win their third straight state title.
“It takes effort from every member of the team, and this is what made it possible for us,” Pullen said to MHSAA.com. “We got points from everybody, and Troy had a couple flights where they couldn’t get as many points. We had a team that was strong from top to the bottom, and that’s what it takes to win a state championship.”
At one singles, Pioneer’s Elsie Van Wieren reached the semifinals where she lost to Nicole Fue or Rochester Adams 6-2, 6-2.
Skyline’s ace Sari Woo took first overall at one singles. The junior defeated Fue 6-3, 6-4 in the finals after earning the No. 1 seed.
At two singles, Pioneer’s Bridgette Kelly reached the semifinals before falling 7-6, 2-0 (retired) to Katie Fu of Adams. Kelly was the state champion at four singles a year ago.
At three singles, Juliana Pullen netted a 6-4, 6-0 win over Skyline’s Maddie Slade in the championship match.
Pioneer’s Sophia Liang, only a freshman and the top seed, defeated Clarkston’s Charlotte Partchenko 6-1, 6-2 to win the title at four singles and finish the season undefeated.
“Being the No. 1 seed you have some pressure, but have to learn to relax and enjoy it,” Liang told MHSAA.com after her win. “At the end of the day it’s all about the work and memories that matter the most. I just wanted to come out here and play my game and enjoy it. It feels even better to know that the whole team can come together and win, and it’s a nice feeling that we could keep this going.”
In one doubles, the Pioneer team of Mia Berens and Natalie Guo reached the semifinals before falling 6-2, 6-4 to Troy.
The Pioneer team of Eleanor Vogel and Casey Roe reached the championship match before falling 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to Troy in the finals at two doubles.
In three doubles, the Pioneer team of Elita You and Arella He lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the finals.
In four doubles, the Pioneer team of Noa Gluskin and Jessica Primus defeated Novi in the championship match to win the title.
Photo courtesy of MHSAA.com
For more on the D-1 Finals and more photos click HERE
