Thursday 28th March 2024
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Bondurant/Kizer Duo Comes Up Short In Title Match

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By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director

 

MURFREESBORO – Union City’s hopes for tennis gold were again foiled by Summertown.

 

Shelby Bondurant and Molly Kizer finished as Class 1A state doubles runners-up after dropping a 6-4, 6-1 decision to the Lady Eagles’ sister duo of Gracie and Annalee Kelly Friday morning.

 

It marked the second time in three days and third in the past two years that a Lady Tornado entry had fallen in the state championship round to a team from Summertown.

 

The disappointing ending only temporarily took the shine away from an otherwise spectacular season for Bondurant and Kizer, who became the first Union City players to ever play in an individual state title match.

 

How it happened, though, did sting more than just a little.

 

The junior Twister tandem held a 4-2 lead in the first set and was just two points away from taking a three-game lead before the Kelly sisters rallied. A double fault at set-point was particularly painful.

 

“No doubt, there was a huge momentum swing when that happened,” UC head coach Tom Sisco said afterward. “Things really pivoted then, and we were never able to recover.”

 

The Lady Eagle pair, which was on its heels after Bondurant and Kizer won three straight games with overall impressive play to seize an early 4-2 advantage, carried over that momentum into the second set, closing out the match easily.

 

“Our girls played with a great amount of confidence early on,” Sisco continued. “I’d dare say that nobody has even been ahead at any point of any match against the Summertown girls until then. We were crisp, our shot-making was tremendous, and we were really in a good place.

 

“Then, some of the unforced errors came. And you can’t have that happen at this level and expect to be successful.”

 

Union City evened the second set at 1-all early, but service issues and errant shots, combined with Summertown’s growing confidence, proved to be the Lady Tornadoes’ undoing.

 

Sisco said the loss did not tarnish the accomplishment of Bondurant and Kizer, who won two matches Thursday to reach the biggest stage and also were integral parts of back-to-back state second-place finishes.

 

“Shelby and Molly really came together as a doubles team as the year progressed, and they saw what could make a good tandem,” their coach concluded. “Summertown was a little cleaner today at critical times, and we had far too many unforced errors, but if we clean up the little things and continue to work hard and get better, there’s no reason we can’t be right back here next year, competing for a championship and getting over the hump.”

 

Union City will return its Top 5 players for the 2024 season.

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