By Mike Hutchens, Union City Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It is not an exaggeration to say that Union City made quick work of Scotts Hill in the girls’ Region 7A Tennis Tournament.
The Lady Tornadoes needed less than 45 minutes to secure the program’s 16th regional title, recording an official 4-0 final score before play was halted Thursday afternoon at the UC Middle School Courts.
Union City (16-3) is now just one more win away from its third consecutive Class 1A Spring Fling state tournament after advancing to next week’s sectional. Standing between the Twister girls and that accomplishment will be the winner of the Milan/Middle College Region 8A championship match.
The sectionals will be played at the Jackson Tennis Complex next Thursday, with a start time yet to be determined.
The deep, talented, and experienced Lady Tornadoes simply overmatched Scotts Hill – surrendering just three games in winning singles matches at the No. 1, 2, 4, and 5 spots. Third seed Dani Frankum was just a couple points away from a 6-1, 6-1 win before her match against Julie Hampton was stopped after UC clinched the outcome.
Top seed Shelby Bondurant needed just 22 minutes to blitz Jordan Hampton 6-0, 6-0. District 14A singles champ Emma Mobbs posted the same shutout score against Bella Jones at the No. 5 spot. Second-seed Molly Kizer was the second Lady Twister to finish off her opponent, winning 6-1, 6-0 against Emma Johnson in 39 minutes.
Davey Frankum was in complete control in a 6-1, 6-1 triumph vs. Haley Carter.
Union City head coach Tom Sisco acknowledged his team’s dominance and focus afterward.
“I like where we are,” said Sisco, who has guided the Lady Tornadoes to back-to-back state runner-up finishes the past two seasons. “We’re locked in, and we’re focused. We’ve been building momentum since middle part of season, and we’ve come at this with a business-like attitude.
“It all starts with Shelby (Bondurant) and the way she’s leading the team. Everybody is feeding off that. With her and Molly, we have experience and commitment that bleeds over to the rest of the team. We’re just in a good place.”