Senior Dexter Webster and the rest of the Jesuit tennis team will head to Monroe for state after qualifying in regional play.

Jesuit’s tennis team narrowed the gap with Brother Martin at the LHSAA regional tennis tournament on April 15 & 16, but they just weren’t quite able to get over the hump.

After dropping a dual meet for the district championship just a week ago by a lopsided 6-1 score, Jesuit came out firing on Day One of the regionals, taking two head-to-head contests with the Crusaders. The Jay’s Line 2 doubles team of Dexter Webster and Pierce Westbrook defeated Brother Martin’s Line 3 team, while Jesuit’s Line 1 team of James Henican and Nick Crockens took out Brother Martin’s Line 2 team. Jesuit’s Line 3 doubles team of Wes Melito and David Webster also advanced to the semifinals on the first day.

In singles play, Jojo Sandoz (Line 1) and Sid Trouard (Line 2) also advanced to Tuesday’s semifinal round.

Semifinal doubles action saw Henican and Crockens pick up a thrilling three-set come-from-behind victory to advance to the finals. Unfortunately, it was against Melito and David Webster, their own teammates. In the other doubles semifinal, Brother Martin’s Line 1 team took out Dexter Webster and Westbrook in another three-set marathon.

In singles, Sandoz advanced to the final, but Trouard fell to Brother Martin’s Line 1 entry, the tournament’s top seed.

Jesuit needed one of the two finals matches to reclaim the regional crown, but they couldn’t get it. Brother Martin ran the table in the finals, tying the overall point total at 15. The Crusaders were awarded the regional championship by way of their victories in the finals.

All eight regional participants, three doubles lines and two singles lines, advance to the state tournament in Monroe. Play begins on Friday, April 26.