Williamstown's Isaac Harris, right, celebrates a winning point with doubles partner Brady Woodard during Friday's Class AA/A state tournament in Charleston. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

CHARLESTON – Every fall. Every notch. Williamstown sophomore Brady Anderson keeps a running total for both categories which in turn creates levity among the Yellowjacket tennis program.

During the afternoon and evening sessions at Friday’s Class AA/A state tournament, spectators watched Anderson and doubles partner Gavin Hill play the final match on the indoor courts at Charleston YMCA and survive an 8-8 (7-4) tiebreaker to advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.

During the race to seven points in their semifinal match, Anderson took a tumble to increase his season total to 25 – a stat Anderson and the entire team embraces.

On the flip side, earlier in the match he also hit a return winner at the feet of one of his East Fairmont opponents – a feat he began keeping tabs back during his days of middle school tennis.

“In eighth grade, I just started hitting a lot of people – not intentionally, so I just kind of kept track,” Anderson said. “I’m not trying to hit them, but it kind of just started happening. (Assistant coach Jeremy Woodard) calls me the assassin.”

Wood County Christian freshman Ellie Piatt won two singles matches at the Class AA/A state tournament Friday in Charleston and advanced to the semifinals. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Hill fought through tennis elbow throughout last week’s regional tournament by altering his game. In addition to doubles, he managed to reach Friday’s quarterfinal round before getting eliminated in the semifinals. He learned a thing or two from the injury.

“It made me play smarter,” Hill said. “Last week was definitely a different style of playing, but I fought through it and made it here.”

As the five seed in doubles, Hill and Anderson now have a task ahead of them with top-seeded Nick Giatris and Ethan Bastin from Charleston Catholic.

“They are tough – they just hit really hard,” Hill said. “Nick hits every ball in.”

Championship Saturday at the state tournament will feature two Williamstown entrees in the doubles bracket on opposite sides of the bracket. Brady Woodard, who bowed out of last year’s state tournament with a knee injury, paired up with Gavin Hill as the No,. 2 seed for a quarterfinal win against Chapmanville.

Williamstown's Brady Woodard won his two singles matches and advanced to the semifinals during Friday's Class AA/A state tournament in Charleston. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

In the singles bracket, Woodard pitched a pair of 8-0 shutouts against representatives from East Fairmont and moved into Saturday’s semifinal round. The scores were not indicative of the challenge facing the Yellowjacket junior.

“We had a lot of deuce games in that second match – in one game there were like seven deuces,” Woodard said. “I like seeing all these good players at the state tournament. It’s more energized here and that gets me ready to play.

“I really enjoy tennis – no matter if I win or lose, it just feels good to play.”

Another area representative who earned another day of state tennis was Wood County Christian freshman Ellie Piatt, who allowed a total of five games while winning two matches and advanced into the girls semifinal round in singles as the No. 4 seed.

“The state tournament had a fast pace (with the eight-game pro set) – things went quicker,” Piatt said.

Piatt’s very first point at the high school state championships was a cross-court, forehand winner. Impressive composure for someone representing Wood County Christian for the first time at the state level. Piatt won the first six games of her first round match and defeated Oak Glen’s Ruby Chaney 8-1.

In the quarterfinals, Lincoln’s McKenzie White tested the patience of Piatt’s game with continual slices and the ability to keep shots in play. At one point, Piatt trailed 3-2 then won four straight games and put the finishing touches on an 8-4 victory.

“I don’t like it when it’s close,” Piatt admitted. “I just had to stay low and try to lift the ball (against White), and stay consistent – hit smarter shots.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com