Prep tennis: Gulf Coast girls advance to 3A state semifinals

For the second straight year the Gulf Coast High School girls tennis team has made it to the Class 3A state semifinals.

The Sharks defeated West Boca Raton 4-2 on Monday in the team bracket at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, site of the 3A tournament. Gulf Coast will meet Miami-Doral in the semis on Tuesday morning. If successful, the Sharks will play in the final beginning around 1 p.m.

“All the teams left are amazing,” Gulf Coast coach Mark Voorhees said. “I can’t say enough about how well the girls played today. At this time of the year, we need everyone to play their best.”

Prep tennis: Gulf Coast girls lead area into state tournament

In the team format, there are five singles matches and two doubles matches. The first team to four wins advances. Emma Heiderscheidt, Shale Bouchard, and QiQi Anderson each won singles matches for the Sharks on Monday, while Bouchard and M.J. Castellanos won in doubles to clinch the victory for Gulf Coast.

The Sharks were one of numerous Collier County players to advance on Monday. Fellow Shark David Vilys, playing in the individual draw, defeated defending 3A state champion Tom Jaworski of North Miami-Alonzo Mourning 6-1, 6-3.

Vilys, a junior and the No. 2 seed, will meet Gabe of Melbourne-Viera on Tuesday morning in the semifinals. The individual boys finals are also scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

“It was a good way for David to start the tournament,” Sharks boys coach Tom Zucchi said. “He wants to play better, though, and needs to play better to move on.”

Prep tennis: Gulf Coast girls beat Venice, return to Class 3A state tournament

Also moving on in Class 3A was the Naples High doubles team of Robby Mayher and Michael Moll. The duo outlasted the team from Lecanto High 6-3, 6-3 and will play in the semis on Tuesday.

“Our guys did what they needed to do,” Golden Eagles coach Tony Kamen said. “But it won’t be getting any easier from here on out.”

In 1A competition, also in Altamonte Springs, Community School of Naples doubles team of Sebastian Dounchis and Matt Ferrante advanced to the semifinal round. The pair defeated Tom Haisten and Will Perrigan of Tallahassee-Maclay 6-0, 6-1. They will meet the No. 1-seeded team from Fort Lauderdale-Calvary Christian in the semifinals.

Zach Schiller, the Seahawks No. 1 singles player, lost in the individual boys draw, dropping in straight sets to James Cortese of St. Petersburg-Northside Christian 7-6, 6-3.