A shot at repeating as S.C. High School League Class 5A girls' tennis champion was one win away for River Bluff on Monday. 
Up 3-2, the Lady Gators were a victory in either singles or doubles against Wando of advancing to the state finals Saturday at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. 
Instead, the Lady Warriors won both matches to claim the 4-3 victory and defeat the Lady Gators for the second time in three years in the Lower State final. They will face Upper State champion Spartanburg Saturday for the Class 5A title. 
River Bluff ends the season with a 16-3 record after making their third consecutive Lower State final. 

"The goal for this year was to repeat as state champions," River Bluff head coach Briam Lim said. "We fell just short of having that opportunity, but learned some tough lessons on the way. Wando played a great match and was the better team last night. We did, however, claim our third straight region title and reached our third consecutive Lower State final. This team will lose 2 starters and will be hungry for next season. The girls had a great run and I’m excited to see my top two, Liyin and Claire, compete in the individual tournament next week."

Wando 4, River Bluff 3
SINGLES
Liyin Zhu (RB) def. Kelsey Sinclaire 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), (10-7)
Abby Sinclaire (W) def. Claire Floyd 6-2, 6-2
Victoria Votion (RB) def. Lily Zimmerman 6-3, 6-4
Grace McKellar (W) def. Kiana Thatcher 6-2, 6-0
Shelby Byers (RB) def. Ellie Zimmerman 6-1, 6-4

DOUBLES
Abby/Kelsey Sinclaire (W) def. Liyin Zhu/Riley Mitchell 6-2, 6-4
Adelia Phillips/Emma Chadwick (W) def. Victoria Votion/Julian Leitzey 6-2, 5-2

VOLLEYBALL
Gray Collegiate fall 
in Lower State final
The Class 2A Lower State final was a “Family Affair”.
Sister schools Gray Collegiate Academy and Oceanside Academy competed for the right to advance to Saturday’s state final at White Knoll High School.
The host team Lady Landsharks came away with the 3-set victory (25-20, 25-13, 27-25) and will face defending champion St. Joseph’s.
Last year, St. Joseph’s defeated the Lady War Eagles in the Upper State final.
Gray Collegiate finished the season at 18-19 and Region 3-2A champions. 
Gray Collegiate Principal Brian Newsome also lost a bet to Oceanside Collegiate principal Brenda Corley to wear the Lady Landsharks’ volleyball shirt. 
Another Chronicle Country team competing for a berth in the volleyball state is Lexington. The Lady Wildcats will play host to the Class 5A Lower State final against defending champion Wando at 6 p.m. Tuesday. 
Lexington (36-7) enters the contest having dropped 15 straight matches to the Lady Warriors (48-3). This included a Best of Three pool play match this past September at the Tournament of Champions.
The winner faces either T.L. Hanna or Nation Ford in the Class 5A final at 7 p.m. Saturday at White Knoll High School. Read about the Lexington/Wando results at www.lexingtonchronicle.com .