Niceville girls tennis falls in Final 4, ending season at 21-2

Niceville's bid for a 2014 state title repeat ended Thursday in the Final 4.

Despite Audrey Hill remaining unbeaten at the No. 5 singles spot and Aspen Young leading her No. 1 match 3-6, 6-2, (6-3), the Eagles were eliminated in a 4-1 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the 3A state semifinals.

The Eagles entered the day 21-0 against Florida competition, but got off to a bad start in doubles after Young and Samantha McOuat lost 4-2, 4-1 at No. 1 and Annaliese Drab and Marisol Enguidanos lost 4-2, 5-3 at No. 2.

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Hill's 6-4, 6-1 win at the No. 5 singles spot pushed her singles record to a perfect 17-0 on the season and gave the Eagles hope, but McOuat lost 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 and Drab lost 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3 to send the Eagles home. Isabella Faccini trailed 6-3, 5-1 in the No. 4 spot.

Under past rules, Young's individual singles win would've advanced her back into the draw for a state singles title. Instead, she's eliminated with the team loss as multiple district champs she defeated advance on.

Regardless of the defeat, it was an amazing 21-2 run for a team brimming with depth. In singles, Young finishes the season 16-4, McOuat 12-8, Drab 18-2, Faccini 14-2 and Hill 17-0. In doubles, Young and McOuat finish 18-3 and Drab and Enguidanos 16-4.

From Wednesday: Niceville sweeps Gateway to advance to Final 4

The regular season for Niceville girls tennis was an 18-1 triumph. The district tournament was a rout. Regionals was a coronation of sweeps.

At every stage, Niceville's hoisted hardware and flexed. The state tournament was no exception Wednesday, the Eagles sweeping Gateway in the 3A Elite 8 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs to advance to the Final 4 and a date Thursday with St. Thomas Aquinas.

How dominant was the Elite 8 win?

Niceville didn't drop a single set, the ninth such occasion this season. No. 1 doubles team Aspen Young and Samantha McOuat and No. 2 doubles team Annaliese Drab and Marisol Enguidanos started the day with straight-set wins, and No. 1 Young and No. 3 Drab finished off the sweep with straight-set wins in their singles matches. The Eagles didn't need it, but No. 2 McOuat, No. 4 Isabella Faccini and No. 5 Audrey Hill had each won the first set of their singles matches as well, when the Elite 8 was called as a 4-0 sweep.

Niceville last won a state title in 2014, albeit in a different format.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville girls tennis falls in Final 4, ending season at 21-2