Eaton senior Mallory Hitchcock placed third at the Division II district tournament on Thursday, Oct. With her third place finish she advances to the state tournament for the fourth time in her career.
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
MASON — Mallory Hitchcock will wrap up her stellar high school tennis career with a trip to the state tournament this coming weekend.
Hitchcock, a University of Dayton commit, finished third at the Southwest District tournament on Thursday, Oct. 10 to qualify for the state tournament for the fourth time in her career.
“We are definitely happy to be returning to state for her fourth time and final year,” her coach and dad John Hitchcock said. “Given her past success it’s a goal that she expects but never takes for granted because we have both seen some strange stuff happen in the qualifying rounds. And on top of that, the Southwest district is arguably the strongest district going, especially in Division 2. Out of the top four girls in the state last year, three were from the SW District and all three girls returned for this season.”
Hitchcock, a two-time state doubles champion, won her first two matches at the district tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
She defeated Grace Nguyen of Cin. Indian Hill in the first round 6-0, 6-0 then defeated Jayden Puryear of Cin. Summit Country Day 6-1, 6-3 to earn her spot at state.
On day two, when seedings are decided for state, Hitchcock fell in the semifinal in three sets to Sophia Thompson of Indian Hill 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1.
In her third-place match she beat Ansley Violette of Chaminade Julienne 6-3, 6-2.
“That’s why the seeding rounds on Thursday were going to present a major challenge,” her coach said of the tough field returning to the SW District. “Her semifinals match ended up being a rematch of last year’s Districts finals. Last year, Mallory was able to pull off a win in 3 sets but this year she ended up losing in 3 sets. It was great tennis on both sides, and the match kept going back and forth. Mallory had a chance after winning the 1st set 7-6 and she was up 5-4, 30 all, in the 2nd set but the girl came up with two big time serves to clinch the game and make it 5 all. From there Mallory lost the momentum.”
She was able to rebound to place third.
“In the 3rd place match, Mallory did what she needed to do,” her coach said. “It’s very hard to take a loss like that, and then try to come back in an hour to play an equally important match. I give her credit; she had a little bit of a slow start but finally got focused and dialed in against a girl who had nothing to lose and was playing well. Those at times can be tricky matches to get through.”
Mallory, who placed third at state last year in singles, will begin the state tournament play against Ava Patel of Lima Shawnee.
“The Northeast district will bring a very solid group of girls down,” John Hitchcock said. “The defending champion will be coming from the Central district. The competition definitely stiffens, and no matter, Mallory will need to be playing her best tennis on day one just to have hope of making it to day two.”
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
