Members of the Warren girls tennis team, in front, from left, are: Madalynn Perry, Hannah Pearson, Ashley Plank, Lily Seyler, Grace Carr, Maddy McDunn, Sarah Harvey, Sydnie Cochran, Ella Card and Jahzara Hunter. In back are: Coach Thomas Pellegrino, Iris Kiehl, Natasha Ferry, Winnie Wolf, Grace Carlson, Anna Courson, Peyton Morrison, Lucy Harrison, Mackenzie Lester, Kaelin Hatfield, Izzy Heacox and Coach Mike Kiehl. Submitted Photo

ERIE — Two seasons ago, Warren’s girls tennis team finished 2-12. Now the Dragons will play for the District 10 title.

On Tuesday, the Dragons topped the Region 1 champs, Hickory, 4-1 in the D10 2A team semifinals at Westwood Racquet Club.

“Hickory is the Region 1 champion and we know their team very well,” said Warren coach Thomas Pellegrino. “We scrimmaged them the first weekend of the season and saw them at various tournaments and events this season, so we knew this match was going to be challenging.”

Lucy Harrison defeated Olivia Gingras 6-2, 6-1, at third singles.

“Lucy has held it down for us at third singles all season long and she was on a mission today,” said Pellegrino. “She was dictating every point from the baseline and giving her opponent absolutely nothing to work with. This win puts Lucy at 14 singles wins this season, which is the most of any Dragon in the last 10 years.”

At top singles, Iris Kiehl defeated Nicolette Leonard 6-0, 7-5.

“She was actually up 5-2 in the second set before Nicolette clawed her way back to 5-5,” said Pellegrino. “Once the set got tight, though, Iris picked her play back up and closed out the next two games by winning eight of the 10 final points. This was one of the best matches I’ve seen Iris play this year and we are very proud of her development this season.”

Mackenzie Lester made her singles debut after dealing with a fractured ankle all season. She lost 2-6, 4-6 Abbie Bender.

“Mackenzie played beyond our expectations today,” said Pellegrino. “She was cleared to play only two weeks ago and has worked hard to challenge her way back into the starting lineup.

“We knew going into this that it would take a few games or a set for her to get the rust off,” said Pellegrino. “Once we got into the second set, the match was high-level and very competitive with almost all games going to deuce. Mackenzie played her butt off today and for her first match back off a severe injury, we were very impressed.”

With the match at 2-1, the deciding point would come down to one of the doubles teams. The first doubles team of Izzy Heacox and Grace Carr played an extremely talented and aggressive Hickory team of Giada Bertalasio and Ava Spielvogle, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

“This may have been the most entertaining match of the day and was back-and-forth the first two sets,” said Pellegrino. “Both teams were serving great and attacking the net, which led to both teams capturing one of the first two sets. After losing the second set and knowing we were only one point away from a D10 final, our girls refused to lose. The best word to define this set was perfection. Both Izzy and Grace were serving aces, ripping returns, and taking complete control of the net.”

At second doubles, Madalynn Perry and Sydnie Cochran defeated Kara Leonard and Jenna Missory 6-1, 6-2.

“These two have been playing together for two seasons now and repeatedly win big match after big match for us,” said Pellegrino. “When they first went out today the match was 2-1 and (top doubles) was just starting the third. They told me not to worry and they would send a message. They weren’t lying. These girls absolutely dominated this match from start to finish. Perry was smashing overhead after overhead and Sydnie was passing and lobbing Hickory left and right. What a great win from our seniors.

“This (semifinal) win was easily one of the best in the history of the program,” added Pellegrino. “This win puts us in the District 10 AA team final for the first time ever. Since the D10 tournament was created in 2000, the only other time Warren made it to the final was in 2014 when Warren lost the AAA final to Fairview. … Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make it to the team district playoffs and we exceeded that goal by not only making it but winning our semifinal match. These kids have worked so hard all offseason and all season long to get where we are today.”

The Dragons will return to Erie on Thursday to play Cathedral Prep for the D10 title.

“We have lost to them twice this season and our girls want a final shot at redemption,” said Pellegrino. “Cathedral Prep has won six consecutive team titles, but our girls are up for the challenge and ready to leave it all on the court.”