Burnet girls doubles team wins regional tourney, advances to state tournament
CAPTION: Burnet doubles players Tatum Salinas (left) and Aly Van Zandt hold their gold medals that symbolize winning the Class 4A Region III tournament and returning to the state tournament. Courtesy photo
The Burnet High School girls doubles team of Tatum Salinas and Aly Van Zandt added the Class 4A Region III championship thanks to going 3-0 at the event May 9-10.
That means the duo are returning to the Class 4A state tournament Thursday and Friday, May 16-17, at AnneMarie Tennis Center in San Antonio.
“It’s always been the goal,” Salinas said. “We know we have to compete. We know how to compete.”
The Lady Dawgs, who were seeded No. 1, defeated Reese Jenkins and Sophia Brooks of China Spring 6-0, 6-0 in the championship.
“We got a bye the first round and swept through our matches,” Salinas said. “We know coming in as the No. 1 seed, teams are going to prepare to beat us. We’re trying our best to keep our heads on our shoulders. We don’t let the pressure or expectation get to us.”
The two also beat Reese Cockrell and Sayre Hall of Center 6-0. 6-0 and Hadley Morgan and Marli Dupuy of Hamshire-Fannett 6-2, 6-1.
A weather delay simply served to slow down the inevitable, Salinas added.
The key to their success, she said, is the communication between the two.
“We need to work together,” she said. “(Van Zandt) talks the whole time. We had to lift each other up.”
As she is winding down her senior year, Salinas can check off another goal on her list.
“It feels great,” she said. “My freshman year, my goal was to win regionals. We got it accomplished. It’s very rewarding.”
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