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Stovall, Brett edged in NCS doubles play

Sonoma pair won SCL doubles title

After their upbeat teamwork and inspiring run through the Sonoma County League girls tennis doubles tournament at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Izzy Derkos courts netted them the SCL title, Sonoma Valley High School juniors Michelle Stovall and Stephanie Brett ventured into higher-level postseason play.

Earning an automatic berth as the SCL champions, Stovall and Brett competed in the North Coast Section Division 3 championship doubles tourney on the Diamond Hills Sports Club courts in Oakley on Tuesday and, unfortunately, the Lady Dragons’ duo had a short stay.

In their opening-round match, Stovall and Brett, coached by Mary Kate Dreyer, battled through a long and tense first-set that ended in a 6-6 tie, before they dropped a heartbreaking 7-2 tiebreaker to the Santa Rosa pairing of Haley Lyons and Laurel Ockenden, who then took the second set 6-1 to win the match.

“Michelle (Stovall) and Stephanie (Brett) had a great season and made it to the NCS first round, but, sadly, that was it,” said coach Dreyer. “My girls fought hard in the first set but ran out of steam once they lost the tiebreaker.”

It was a memorable season for Dreyer and her SCL third-place Lady Dragons, which was made even more special by the accomplishments of doubles champions Brett, an exchange student from Germany, and Stovall, who were consistent winners at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively, during regular-season play.