By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
EDWARDSBURG - The Dowagiac girls' tennis team finally found its way to the championship trophy on Saturday as it won the Edwardsburg Invitational.
Dowagiac, a runner-up at Brandywine earlier this month, edged South Haven for the championship, 27-25. Edwardsburg was third with 20 points and Constantine fourth with six.
Last year the Lady Eddies won their own invitational, while Dowagiac and South Haven tied for second.
Dowagiac swept the singles championships in head-to-head competition with South Haven. That, plus a championship from its No. 2 doubles team, was the difference.
All season long the Chieftains have felt like they needed to get at least one doubles team into the finals in order to have a shot at bringing home a team championship.
On Saturday, Dowagiac had two teams reach the finals and another finish third.
Lisa Rubino, Barbara Laing, Ashley Urbanski and Anne O'Keefe for the second time this season swept the singles championship flights at a tournament. The foursome also brought home the hardware from the Parchment Invitational.
Dowagiac's No. 2 doubles team of Calie Daniels and Lindsay Tyler, both first year players, defeated Corinne Fleming and Chelsie Baucus of Edwardsburg in three sets. Dowagiac won the third set tiebreaker 7-5 defeating the Lady Eddies duo, which defeated them earlier in the year.
Taylor Townsend and Amelia First lost in a tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles to Gina Crandall and Ann Leedy of South Haven in the title match.
Team results
Dowagiac 27, South Haven 25, Edwardsburg 20, Constantine 6
Championship round:
Singles
1. Lisa Rabino (D) d. Alishia Raak (SH) 6-3, 6-2; 2. Barbara Laing (D) d. Jessica Ford (SH) 6-1, 6-4; 3. Ashley Urbanski (D) d. Celeste Gruber (SH) 6-0, 6-3; 4. Anne O'Keefe (D) d. Erika Peterson (SH) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. Gina Crandall/Ann Leedy (SH) d. Taylor Townsend/Ameila First (D) 3-6, 6-3, 7-4; 2. Calie Daniels/Lindsay Tyler (D) d. Corinne Fleming/Chelsie Baucus (E) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.; 3. Katy DeGrandchamp/Alyssa DeGrandchamp d. Ally Weir/Bethany Marschke (E); 4. Lindsey Mette/Courtney Moyer (E) d. Erica Akehurst-Lorinne Bennett (SH)