Parkersburg’s Christian Marshall reaches for a return in a quarterfinal singles match during Wednesday’s Class AAA, Region IV Tennis Tournament at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg High School went empty-handed in terms of advancing a singles nor a doubles entry into next week’s Class AAA state tennis tournament for the individual format.

Regardless, the outcome hammered home how much the Big Reds stress the team concept.

This week at the Region IV Tournament at City Park, the Big Reds made a statement on both the boys and girls side. The Big Red boys won a regional title for the first time since 2019 by upsetting defending state champion Hurricane for the team duals title, while their female counterparts needed two season-defining wins to rally past second-ranked Cabell Midland in a semifinal dual victory.

“Here at PHS, the last three years it has been team, team, team,” PHS coach Eric Stanley. “Previous to that, everything with the tennis tournament had gone so individualized. Going back to this format really brought these kids together and closer. We preach togetherness. So the fact that the teams made it, that’s the most important.”

For Wednesday’s format, the top four placewinners in singles and the two finalists in doubles advanced to their respective fields for the state event. Several Big Reds came within one match of filling those spots.

Parkersburg’s Emma Stanley returns a forehand in a Round of 16 singles match during Wednesday’s Class AAA, Region IV Tennis Tournament at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

In singles, 12th-seeded Christian Marshall upset the five seed Grant Knapp from Hurricane 8-6 in the Round of 16. He carried the momentum into the quarterfinals and built a 3-0 lead against No. 4 seed Rayyan Oudghiri-Otmani from Cabell Midland.

“My dad was telling me to just keep it in the court,” Marshall said. “That’s what I did throughout my matches.”

In the quarterfinals, Marshall forced multiple unforced errors at the outset, but Rayyan Oudghiri-Outman began playing smarter tennis and reached back by winning seven straight games and eventually won 8-4.

“I never expected to make it this far in singles – I’m more of a doubles player,” Marshall said.

Nearly directly behind Marshall’s match, Parkersburg’s doubles team of Ella Grace Haddox and Emmalee Pritchett were trying to complete the unthinkable. Entered as the the No. 7 seed in the field, Haddox and Pritchett defeated the Huntington pair of Lilah Haynes and Julianne Leach seeded No. 2 by a score of 8-2.

Parkersburg’s Liya Tewodros reaches for a forehand shot in a Round of 16 singles match during Wednesday’s Class AAA, Region IV Tennis Tournament at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Their quest for another major upset ended in the semifinals against Cabell Midland’s Alyssa Corrigan and Maddie Frazier seeded No. 3, falling 8-4.

“It was a shame that we didn’t get the win,” Pritchett said. “But it just shows what we have to work on to improve.”

Pritchett and teammate Emma Stanley provided the fireworks the previous day when they resumed their singles matches with PHS trailing Cabell Midland 3 to 2 with two matches remaining in the semifinals of the team duals format.

“When we started the next day, the girls team was down – and we were down in those two matches with Emma and Emmalee,” coach Stanley said. “We were just lucky enough to have both Emma and Emmalee have that defining match (of the season) and finish within 10 minutes of each other.”

Uncooperative weather suspended their matches from the night before and when they resumed the following day, both girls rallied from behind – and both winning in a tiebreaker.

Parkersburg’s Truman Roberts, right, waits at the net while doubles teammate Manny Tewodros serves in a Round of 16 match during Wednesday’s Class AAA, Region IV Tennis Tournament at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“It felt good knowing I had everybody’s support, and being able to walk off the court knowing we were going to states,” Pritchett said. “It was scary because we had never beat them that I can remember. I remember talking to one of our coaches and saying who invented this sport, because I was so scared.

“Coach told me to breathe and that’s what I did. Yes, that’s the highlight of my career because last year I didn’t get to play at states – I was just a fill-in. So knowing I get to play this year is really cool.”

With individuals restricted to a maximum of five matches in one day, winners from the respective division are yet to be determined. Cabell Midland High School will host the final two rounds in singles for both boys and girls, along with the finals in both doubles matches, beginning today at noon.

For Parkersburg, they will begin preparing for next week’s state tournament, which begins Thursday in Charleston. On the boys side, coach Stanley likes his chances since he has six players who provide solid depth.

PHS senior Truman Roberts couldn’t agree more. Roberts and doubles teammate Manny Tewodros lost to third-seeded Smith and Patterson from Huntington 8-4 in the semifinal round.

Parkersburg South’s Max Boyd eyes a backhand shot during an opening round singles match during Wednesday’s Class AAA, Region IV Tennis Tournament at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“Beating Hurricane in the team duals was a huge moment – that was the first time in all four of my years here we had made states,” Roberts said. “Just making it to states was an accomplishment, but beating Hurricane was pretty huge. It was definitely a team effort.”

The highlight of Wednesday’s format occurred in the quarterfinals when the PHS duo upset the second seed team in the field – Cabell Midland’s Oudghiri-Otmani and Kalel Chattin. Against Hurricane in the semis, Roberts and Tewodros won the first two games before dropping a 8-4 decision.

“We finally beat Cabell Midland – that was a big moment for us,” Roberts said. “We started off fast against Hurricane then the momentum turned. We were happy with how we played – we didn’t think we played bad.”

As for the Big Red girls, one slot in the lineup for states is yet to be determined after Coach Stanley’s daughter, Emma, suffered a medical emergency. She had difficulty breathing during a changeover while competing in a Round of 16 match.

Thanks to quick response from several individuals representing different schools at the tourney, including a Huntington parent who works as a nurse, Emma Stanley eventually walked off the court with assistance from her father and was taken to the hospital emergency room.

Parkersburg South’s Audrey Smith returns a backhand in a Round of 16 singles match during Wednesday’s Class AAA, Region IV Tennis Tournament at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“Having a player go down on the court is hard enough as it is,” coach Stanley said. “Having it be your own child makes it even harder. We did have to take her to the E.R. I got an update from her mother that she’s at home resting now.

“Every school has an emergency action plan in place. We have one in place, and a little bit of the joke is Emma is the person we go to for an emergency action response. I’m very appreciative to the Huntington parent that stepped in. We had another parent that gave us some shade with the umbrella. Everybody came to aid, and it is very appreciated.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com