Back-to-Back: Kate Poitevint and Sybil Lee win second tennis State Championship in two years

Published 2:33 pm Tuesday, April 16, 2024

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Grace Christian Academy tennis juniors Kate Poitevint and Sybil Lee captured their second doubles state title in two years with a win over Southwest Georgia Academy in the GIAA-2A Tennis State Championship.

“It kind of doesn’t feel real,” Poitevint said. “She looked at me [during the second set] and was like, ‘This doesn’t even feel real right now.’” Lee added. 

They won in a commanding 6-0 6-1 match. Lady Cougars head coach Rhonda Wells said she’s elated about their back-to-back win.

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“They brought me two,” Wells said, referencing what Poitevint and Lee told her after the match. “I’m super proud of them.”

Lee and Poitevint have been dominant all year. They went undefeated through the season and dropped just three games out of 48 against playoff opponents. 

The pair said this year’s win came with added pressure, but they rose above it to reach the championship once again.

“It feels harder, for sure,” Lee said after the match. “Recreating success is hard.”

“There was a lot more pressure this year,” Poitevent said. “Before we left Bainbridge, everybody was like, ‘Ooooo, You’re gon’ come back with another one.’”

Lee and Poitevint have been playing tennis since a young age and have been taking supplemental tennis lessons for the past two years. Wells said the two have meshed well together over their years of playing together. 

That chemistry was evident in their first state championship win last year. Wells said they came into this season “head and shoulders” above the rest of the competition. 

“They just work well together,” Wells said. “Sybil’s really developed at the net, and Kate’s serve is rocking… they’re very dedicated. They put in the work, and they’re seeing the results.”

Poitevint and Lee are not only dominant in tennis, but in volleyball as well. The two served as co-captains on the Lady Cougars volleyball team and led the squad to a state championship match. The team ended state runners-up, but have their sights set on a title in the 2024 season.

Lady Cougars volleyball head coach Kelsey Harrell said Poitevint and Lee are like yin and yang on the volleyball court, working well together to lead the team.

“The girls voted on them as captains due to their leadership abilities,” Harrell said. “[Poitevint] and Sybil just stand out.”

This second State Title isn’t the end for Poitevint and Lee. They get the chance to go for a three-peat next year in their senior season.

Two other Lady Cougars competed in the State Tournament.

Elijah Grace Cawvey finished in the semi-finals of the singles bracket.

Grieir Albritton finished in the quarter-finals of the singles bracket.