From staff reports
RALEIGH - Shannon Herndon, Watauga's No. 1 seeded tennis player the past three years, fell in state 4-A playoffs Friday afternoon at Millbrook Exchange Park.
Herndon lost to Melissa Kandinata of Cary Green Hope 6-0, 6-1. Green Hope had another player, Helen Wang, reach the next round with a win over Jessica Perez of Myers Park 6-3, 7-5.
It was a big day for everybody who was a top seed from their regional. Grace Baker, the state's defending 4-A champion, won her match 6-1, 6-1 over Ally Prior of Raleigh Wakefield. She'll take on Kandinata Saturday in the semifinals. Kandinata went on to beat Bia Signori of R.J. Reynolds 6-1, 6-0, while Baker beat Jessie Boda of Scotland County 6-0, 6-0.