BY TOM LAW
THE TOCCOA RECORD
The Stephens County Lady Indians on Monday stormed into the Elite Eight round (quarterfinals) of the state tennis playoffs on the strength of a one-sided 5-0 victory over Drew Charter School in Atlanta in a second round matchup.
The Lady Indians handily won all three singles matches and both doubles matchups while losing only a total of nine games.
Stephens will now face the winner of the Day Fine Arts vs. Pike County matchup in the Elite Eight.
The Lady Indians improved their 2026 record to 16-5 and the win over Drew Charter was the 10th shutout of the season for the Stephens netters.
The Lady Indians advanced to the Sweet 16 behind a 3-2 victory over Tattnall County here May 21.
Nyleigh Hutto won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles in a match that featured a number of groundstroke rallies. Makayla Rogers triumphed 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 singles while Arwen Bratten fell 3-6, 1-6 at No. 3 singles.
The key match came at No. 1 doubles where Leonna Dinh and Ansley Sheriff teamed for a hard-earned three-set victory 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. The Stephens No. 2 doubles team of Yasemin Atkas and Jovi Kaup lost in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 2-6.
“We were grateful that we got to host the first round and glad we got the win,” Lady Indians coach Debbie Williams said. “This was a tough match.”
The state playoff win improved the Lady Indians to 15-5 for the season.
In the boys state playoff match with Tattnall, the Indians lost a 2-3 heartbreaker.
Jaron Jones got the Indians off to a strong start with a 7-6, 6-1 triumph at No. 1 singles, but Alex Brunt was defeated in three sets 6-1, 2-6, 2-6 at No. 2 singles.
Devon Lynch fashioned a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 2 singles.
The Indian tandem of Kerry Wood and Graden Wilkinson lost 6-3, 0-6, 3-6 at No. 2 doubles and the No. 2 doubles team of Nik Reilenbach and Talent Cannon fell 1-6, 1-6 at No. 2 doubles.
This was the final match for seniors Jones, Brunt and Lynch. It was also the final match for coach Donny Williams who is retiring after 17 years and some 220 tennis victories.
“It was a tough way to end the season. We had our chances today, but could not finish well,” Williams said.
“I’m very proud of the boys for making the playoffs,” he said. “I’m very proud of the boys for making the playoffs and hosting a first round match. The makes two years in a row our Indians team hosted a first round playoff match on our home courts.”
