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A new champion

Amanda Taylor of Richland serves against Stephanie Davison of South Kitsap. Davison won 7-5, 7-5. Amanda Taylor of Richland serves against Stephanie Davison of South Kitsap. Davison won 7-5, 7-5. (Holly Pickett/Holly Pickett/ / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jess Brown
Amanda Taylor of Richland serves against Stephanie Davison of South Kitsap. Davison won 7-5, 7-5. Amanda Taylor of Richland serves against Stephanie Davison of South Kitsap. Davison won 7-5, 7-5. (Holly Pickett/Holly Pickett/ / The Spokesman-Review)

State champion – a title few claim each spring at the 4A State Tennis Championships.

Richland’s Amanda Taylor had claimed the past three girls singles titles and was favored to take a fourth in this year’s tournament, which would make her the fifth player in state history to reign as a four-year champion.

But South Kitsap’s Stephanie Davison, who lost to Taylor in last year’s state final, narrowly defeated Taylor 7-5, 7-5 in the championship match Saturday afternoon at University High.

Davison won the championship match with service breaks and forehand winners coupled with several unforced errors by Taylor.

Davison broke Taylor four times in the 45-minute first set, including the final game after three deuce points were played.

Taylor, who broke Davison three times in the first set, lost the final point seconds before a 30-minute rain delay was called.

Davison controlled the second set early when she went up 5-1 after two solid service breaks. At that point Taylor responded with some key cross-court winners, breaking back twice and holding twice, tying the set 5-all.

Davison, however, didn’t get frustrated.

“I just started telling myself that I’ve got her,” Davison said. “Finally I just had to tell myself to shut up and play tennis.”

Unable to break Davison’s serve a third time, Taylor went down 5-6 and served the final game of the match.

At 30-40, match point for Davison, Taylor placed a perfect serve to Davison’s forehand which was barely returned.

With an easy opportunity to put the point away and take the game to deuce, Taylor nailed a hard overhead to the left side of the court.

Davison scrambled and once again popped the ball up with her racket, somehow finding her way back to the middle of the baseline to await another overhead. After two more incredible Davison saves in the same point, Taylor became frustrated and went for the overhead kill but swung early and shot the ball into the net.

“We talked about stuff like that before the match,” South Kitsap coach Todd Olson said. “Getting to every ball was key so we talked about how important her feet and quick movement would be.”

Davison is a sophomore.

Decatur’s Christopher Rice easily handled Central Kitsap’s Francisco Carrasquero in the boys final, beating him 6-4, 6-1.

In girls doubles Bellarmine Prep’s Katie Kennel and Alita Fisher defeated Emerald Ridge’s Rachel Owens and Aylssa Ferry 6-4, 6-1.

In boys doubles, Scott Borne and Steve McCall of Shorewood won, defeating Alex Hart and Eric Otto of Kamiakin 6-4, 7-6 (4).

2A

Medical Lake’s Zak Nelson lost in the championship match to Travis Johnson of Foster 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in Seattle. Lakeside’s Paige Townsend won in the consolation final, defeating Omak’s Johanna Root 6-1, 6-4.