It was impressive season for Okemos girls tennis team and coach Al Inkala.
The Chieftains finished fifth in the state in Division 2 in the state finals May 31 to June 1.
Draga Sabotic, a sophomore was 24-2 in No 1 singles. Last season at No. 3 singles, she was 34-0 and a state champ. This season, she was a state finalist at No. 1.
“She’s a team leader, example, had a great attitude and is very self-motivated,” Inkala said.
Emily Struble, another sophomore, was 26-0 at No. 2 singles and a state champion.
She has been undefeated at No. 2 singles for two seasons and was 34-0 last season.
“She’s tenacious, competitive,” Inkala said. “She worked hard year round.”
Inkala had six sophomores and one freshmen in the top 12 of his lineup.
“It was a great year,” he said. “We were league and regional champs.”
East Lansing and Mason tied for eighth in Division 2. Haslett took eighth place in Division 3.
In Division 4, Williamston was sixth, Lansing Catholic seventh and Portland ninth.
In No. 1 doubles, Kelsey Nagle and Emily Nash of Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart defeated Delaney Nikolai and Caitlin Chick of Williamston, 6-3, 6-4. In No. 3 doubles, Kendall Lehmann and Hannah Gerard of Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart defeated Sarah Thelen and Julie Xu of Williamston 6-1, 6-2
Champs were Port Huron Northern in Division I, Bloomfield Hills Marian in Division 2, Cranbrook-Kingswood in Division 3 and Bloomfield Hills Academy of Sacred Heart in Division 4.