SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Thomas Jefferson’s Allison Ding ended the 2021 season on a high note.
As a result, the sophomore standout is a state medalist.
Competing in the Class 1, Ding defeated Bolivar’s Sophia Vestal 6-1, 7-6 (4) in the singles bracket’s seventh-place match on Saturday at the 47th MSHSAA Girls Tennis Championships at the Cooper Tennis Complex.
Ding went 2-1 on Friday to lock up a top eight finish.
In a hard-fought opening round match, Duchesne’s Mary Beckemeier edged Ding 3-6, 7-6, 10-8. Beckemeier ended up the state runner-up after falling to Whitfield’s Ellior Rose in the championship match.
In the consolation round, Ding defeated Lutheran South’s Emma Peper 6-1, 6-0. In the consolation quarterfinals, Ding beat Harrisonville’s Morgan Evans 7-5, 6-4 to stay alive in the tourney.
On Saturday morning, Ding suffered a 6-0, 6-1 loss to Kennett’s Anelle Harris in the consolation semifinals. The loss sent Ding to the seventh-place match. Harris went on to win the fifth-place match.
