West Forsyth’s No. 3-ranked girls tennis team endured a 90-minute delay in the middle of their second round state tournament match, but in the end the Lady Wolverines pulled out a 3-2 victory against Oconee County Tuesday on the road.

The win moves the Lady Wolverines into the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the St. Pius X/ Flowery Branch match.

West started out strong Tuesday with Megan Aligheri easily winning at No. 3 singles 6-0, 6-0.  

“Megan played the match of her life, especially in the gusty conditions, but it gave us the momentum,” West coach James Hallewell said in an e-mail.

Sydney Niemi teamed up with Savannah Miller and they were defeated 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles by Mary Stuart Avants and Caroline Guest, allowing Oconee to tie the match 1-1.  

Madi Umbaugh had won her first set 6-1 and was up 4-0 and 40-love in the second set at 2 singles, while Jenna Brunner was up 6-1, 4-2 at No. 1 singles when rain halted play for 90 minutes.

West came out strong after the delay, as Brunner ended up winning her match 6-1, 6-3 to give West a 2-1 edge.  

Oconee responded by defeating Martina Vis and Amanda Conklin 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles to tie the match 2-2.

But Umbaugh sealed the win for the Lady Wolverines by taking care of her second set 6-1, after winning the first 6-1.  
“The girls played great, especially for the conditions,” Hallewell said.

“There were [wind] gusts up to 30 mph, but the girls didn’t let it bother them. We also had one of our No. 1 doubles players out on a DECA trip, which moved everyone up a position and an alternate in, but the girls persevered and kept a positive attitude through it all. I’m proud of the girls.”  

The coach added that the victory allowed the team to complete one of its long-term goals set at the start of the season — making it further in state than last year.  

“This is a great accomplishment for the girls with such a young team,” Hallewell said.