Hilton Head High’s Emily Ruckno avenged a loss in last year’s state singles final, but it wasn’t enough for the Seahawks to knock off defending Class 4A champion Lucy Beckham, which secured the Region 7-4A title with a 4-2 win over the host Seahawks on Sunday.
Ruckno outdueled defending state singles champion Piper Charney in a rematch of the 2020 final, rallying after dropping the first set for a 1-6, 7-5, 10-7 victory. Charney is ranked fifth in the current USTA Girls 16 national rankings. It was the second big win of the week for Ruckno, who also earned her first professional win in the ITF’s Dennis Van Der Meer Shipyard Cup on Hilton Head Island.
Danielle Silvan also won for the Seahawks at No. 3 singles, but the Bengals won a pair of three-set matches to gain a 3-2 edge in singles and claimed the doubles court to clinch it.
The Seahawks (10-5, 6-2) continue region play Tuesday at James Island.
Lucy Beckham 4, HHIHS 2
Singles
1. Emily Ruckno (HHIHS) def. P. Charney 1-6, 7-5 (10-7)
2. P. Rogers (LB) def. Hailey Poplin 6-0, 1-6, (10-6)
3. Danielle Silvan (HHIHS) def. A. Dawson 6-4, 6-3
4. A. Willbourne (LB) def. Alyssa Ruckno 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 10-7
5. L.Small (LB) def. Hailey Cruz 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
2. G. Rawley/R. Cesar (LB) def. Lilly Friday/Jessica Staigar 6-1, 7-5
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