BE girls tennis wins state championship!

Do you believe in déjà vu?

The answer, if you follow Chapman High School girls tennis, just might be a painful “yes.”

For the second straight year, the Bishop England varsity girls lifted the Class AAA state championship trophy after a victory over Chapman. And for the second straight year, the Bishops made it look easy against the Upper State entry. The Bishops posted a 6-0 victory Saturday at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center, a year after topping Chapman 7-0.

Any way you crunch the numbers, the Bishops shine.

The team recorded its second straight perfect season with a 22-0 record after finishing 23-0 last fall. The Bishops have not lost a match since 2017.

It marked the ninth straight state title for the Bishops and 24th overall, which are both state records, according to Palmetto’s Finest, the official record book of the High School League.

“As far as the pressure of the streak, it’s about being prepared, confident and playing to win,” coach Kristen Fleming Arnold said. “I always tell the girls that nothing is a given, its takes hard work, dedication, and teamwork for success.”

She added, “I am very excited for the girls. They all worked hard during the season to be ready for the state championship.”

As a former BE athlete and current coach, Fleming Arnold remains perfect at 16-0 in state championship matches. She played on four state championship teams in the early 1990s and has celebrated 12 state titles as a coach, including nine as the girls’ coach and three years as the boys’ coach.

Saturday’s state title was the first of the academic year for the school, which has 153 state championships in its illustrious history.

No. 1 singles player Lily Wood won her fifth state title as a Bishop with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over sophomore Elizabeth Williams.

Jenna Santa Lucia, McKenzie Penton, Bella Nava and Sydney Severance all won in straight sets in singles play while the Bishops’ Molly McManus and Elle Bredemann teamed up to win in doubles action. McManus is the only player of the bunch who will graduate this year.

Fleming Arnold said the Bishops fared well in the state championship rematch. It’s always tough to win the state title, even tougher to win it two years in a row against the same foe.

“Playing the same team in back to back state championships is difficult,” Fleming Arnold said. “You need to change your mindset as the results from the previous year do not translate. I tell the girls the slate is wiped clean. It’s a new match, and it’s go time.”

With most of the talented tennis players returning for 2020, the Bishops hope to keep the perfection going.

“Next year looks great for the program,” the coach said. “The girls always work hard in the offseason to be ready for the new season.”

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