Notre Dame tennis to face powerful Bombers in state semis

Donna Ryan, co-coach of the Notre Dame girls tennis team, is clear about three things in regard to the Class 1 state tournament being played today in Springfield, Missouri.

One, her Bulldogs know they are in the final four, part of the quartet that is the best in Missouri.

Two, no team from the school has ever gotten this far before at state.

Third, the storybook run will come to an end today.

Notre Dame (16-1-1) faces John Burroughs (16-1), the elite prep academy from west St. Louis County at 9 a.m.

Notre Dame defeated both Rosati-Kain and Notre Dame (St. Louis) on Saturday to earn its berth in the semifinal.

Ryan called John Burroughs a “powerhouse” in tennis.

“(Our girls) have never seen tennis played at this level,” Ryan said.

Ryan sees the match against the Bombers as a learning experience for her squad, which has only one senior in Anna Grace Stroup.

Claire Bruendermann and Claire Southard are juniors; Megan Gullette, Amina Hussein and Emma Marshall are all sophomores.

Ryan calls facing John Burroughs “an enormous challenge,” and a chance for the Bulldogs to see what is possible in the future.

As is common in postseason play, the first team to record five wins moves on to the championship.

Three doubles matches begin the contest, followed by six singles matches.

“Once a team gets to five wins,” Ryan said, “all other play stops immediately.”

The other 9 a.m. semifinal pits Springfield Catholic (16-1) and Pembroke Hill (14-4).

The championship will be played at 1 p.m.