DENVER - Even with so many Class 5A No. 1 singles state championships to choose from — three in all — the last one was the most special to Caroline Daugherty.

The Valor Christian senior put a special and bittersweet end to her remarkable prep tennis career in style Saturday afternoon, as she became the state’s first three-time No. 1 singles winner at the 5A level in more 20 years with a win over Legacy freshman star Lynnsey Lu. The last to win three-straight 5A No. 1 singles titles was Columbine's Sara Anundsen (2001-03). 

Daugherty — who signed with the University of Denver, which is just a long volley away from the Denver Tennis Park — exhibited the fortitude of a champion to win a key opening set tiebreak and then built on it for a 7-6, 6-2 victory in front of a crowd that knew history would be made no matter who prevailed.

“I think definitely this one is the sweetest, especially since I got to win on the court I’ll play on next year for college and my only loss throughout the season was to Lynnsey,” Daugherty said of her favorite title. “It felt really good to get that final win and finish off high school with a win. …It’s hard to believe I won’t play another high school match. It’s been such a big part of my life for the last four years and it’s hard to believe it’s over now.”

Daugherty’s aforementioned only defeat of the season came back on April 3, when she dropped a 6-4, 4-6, 10-5 second round match at the Full Send Invitational to Lu, a phenom who brought an undefeated record into the final and had dropped a total of just five games in her first three state matches.

Lu played with confidence in the opening set and led almost the entire way, even going up as much as 3-1 in the tiebreak. But Daugherty dug in and fought her way back and surged to a three-point victory and a set lead.

“It was a really long, really tough set and I was down for 95 percent of it,” Daugherty said. “I just kept telling myself, ‘just get the next point, one point at a time.’ Eventually, all the points came together. …She’s such a solid player from the baseline and gets to every single shot, so I knew that even if I hit a great shot, she was going to get to it. I just had to stay super focused.”

Daugherty’s experience showed in the final set, as she weathered a brief rally and stayed consistent to the end.

When the deciding point was made, Daugherty kept her composure, shook hands with Lu with good sportsmanship, then enjoyed a lengthy celebration with her jubilant Valor Christian teammates.

“I don’t think I would be here without them,” she said of her teammates.

The other large storyline of the individual event finals was three head-to-head matches between powerhouses Ralston Valley and Cherry Creek, which will meet to decide the 5A team championship on Tuesday.

The Mustangs — the top seed in the team tournament who will go for a third straight title — prevailed in all three matchups with the Bruins, beginning with the No. 3 singles match when senior Scarlett Lutz downed sophomore Lizzie Harbaugh 6-4, 6-1 for a quality tone-setter.

“It’s insane, coming off the court I was so happy to be done (today),” Lutz said. “We still have one more. We still have Tuesday and we’re still trying to beat Creek, so we’re not close to done, but I’m just really proud of myself.”

The cherry on top of the day for Lutz was to be able to play on the court directly adjacent to her teammate and freshman sister Harlowe, who completed a state championship run of her own with junior Malaya Farling. The Mustangs’ duo took down Cherry Creek’s Karissa Manley and Elena Sepesi 6-2, 6-1.

Ralston Valley’s No. 3 doubles team of junior Kate Decker and sophomore Sophia Baig completed the head-to-head sweep with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Chagajee Colburn and Anushka Laxminarayan.

“We’re going to celebrate tonight, but we’re even more ready for Tuesday,” said Decker, who also played with Baig last season. “We want it more than we ever have.”

Added Baig: “We need to come out the with the same intensity Tuesday and never give points away.”

Coach Jazzy Gilette’s Ralston Valley team finished four-for-four in the individual championship matches when sophomore Anna Curran completed an undefeated season with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Rock Canyon’s Isabella Robison.

Cherry Creek did get two championships, which both came in the doubles ranks.

Senior Zoe Hochstadt and sophomore Ashley Geoghegan outlasted Valor Christian’s Anna Schouten and Reese Bieser 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, while the No. 4 doubles team of junior Dylan Milo and freshman Riley Farber posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Rock Canyon seniors Zoe Katsoulas and Reagan O’Neill.
 

Championship Finals Results

No. 1 Singles: Caroline Daugherty (Senior, Valor Christian) def. Lynnsey Lu (Freshman, Legacy), 7-6, 6-2
No. 2 Singles: Anna Curran (Sophomore, Ralston Valley) def. Isabella Robison (Senior, Rock Canyon), 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 Singles: Scarlett Lutz (Senior, Ralston Valley) def. Lizzie Harbaugh (Sophomore, Cherry Creek), 6-4, 6-1
No. 1 Doubles: Mataya Farling/Harlowe Lutz (Ralston Valley) def. Karissa Manley/Elena Sepesi (Cherry Creek), 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Doubles: Zoe Hochstadt/Ashley Geoghegan (Cherry Creek) def. Anna Schouten/Reese Bieser (Valor Christian), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 Doubles: Kate Decker/Sophia Baig (Ralston Valley) def. Chagajee Colburn/Anushka Laxminarayan (Cherry Creek), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 Doubles: Dylan Milo/Riley Farber (Cherry Creek) def. Zoe Katsoulas/Reagan O'Neill (Rock Canyon), 6-1, 6-1