The Mathews High School tennis team punched its ticket to states last Tuesday. The Lady Devils defeated Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, 5-1, in the Region 1A East semifinals team tournament.

The Lady Devils came out strong in singles play to defeat the Appomattox Dragons. Elizabeth Ransone rallied from a 1-6 first set loss against Virginia Slattum, coming back with a vengeance to win the second set, 6-3. Ransone put away Slattum  in the third set, 6-2.

Subbing for Kate van Emmerik at number two, Emma Wood played a well-fought match but fell to Sarah Neal, 0-6, 2-6. At third-seed singles, Morgan Johnson played consistently to defeat Caroline Rhodes, 6-0, 6-4, battling hard in the second set. At number four, Ashley Hudgins defeated senior Erica Jaimes. After winning the first set, 6-3, and losing a tough second set, 0-6, Hudgins battled it out to win her match in the last set, 6-4.

Alexis Wells came out strong and took control to beat her opponent, Sarah Seward, in t...