COLORADO SPRINGS – Evelyn Oltmans left the court at Memorial Park with tears streaming down her face.

The D’Evelyn High School junior attempted to mask the tears with a smile and laughter. But they continue to pour down her face.

As Oltmans trekked down the pathway and toward the Class 3A state tennis tent, many spectators said, “She must have lost.”

Nope, Oltmans earned a 7-5, 7-5 victory at No.1 singles against Northfield’s Scarlett Lutz in the semifinals to advance to Saturday’s championship round.

“I play Scarlett weekly. I’ve played her three times and she’s beaten me all three times,” Oltmans said while wiping away tears. “I’m looking to play college tennis and I just really needed a break. … [I’m just] enjoying right now because I’m so grateful. You just have to fight sometimes and today I did.”

Oltman’s tears came from clawing back in her match against the Northfield freshman, which Oltman nearly lost.

Oltman trailed 0-5 in the second as the match appeared to head to a decisive third set.

That’s when Oltmans regained her composure and won seven games in a row and, eventually, the match.

“I won seven games in a row,” Oltmans said in disbelief. “You can’t think about anything else. You just have to think point by point. She’s a freshman, she’s young so I knew she was going to throw some weird crap. But I fought through.”

Oltmans victory sets up a title match with Colorado Academy’s Anna Jordaan, who defeated Vanguard’s Jordyn VanManen 6-3, 6-1 in the other semifinals match.

This season, Jordaan is 17-0 and yet to allow more than four game points to an opponent.

Through three state matches, she’s allowed just five game points.

Jordaan won the title in 2021 and hopes to reclaim the crown after missing regionals and state last season due to a broken foot.

Jordaan, who’s committed to Navy to play tennis, has played and defeated Oltmans twice this season in the first and final matches of the regular season.

The Colorado Academy senior won the first match 6-0, 6-1 and the last 6-1, 6-0.

“When I go into my matches I try not to think about who I’m playing and just focus on myself,” Jordaan said prior to the conclusion of Oltmans’ match. “It’ll be helpful for my game if I play [Oltmans] because I’ve played her twice already.”

Oltmans realize she’s battling Goliath in her final tilt of the season.

Since fourth times was the charm against Lutz, Oltmans hopes she’ll have similar luck in her third matchup with Jordaan.

Oltmans said she’ll have the same mindset she used to defeat Lutz in the semifinals.

“Point by point,” Oltmans said.

(Marcus Hill)

No. 2 Singles

While Colorado Academy’s Katherine Pulido cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory to advanced to the finals, Peak to Peak’s Sydney Lewis survived a marathon to clinch a spot.

Lewis defeated D’Evelyn’s Sofia Cieslewicz 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 to earn a spot in the championship.

No. 3 Singles

D’Evelyn’s Maisy Schoeman needed three sets to clinch a berth in the championship match.

Schoeman defeated Colorado Academy’s Lila Paton 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 to advance to the title match.

Schoeman faces Vail Christian sophomore Jessie Allen, who has yet to drop a set this tournament.

No. 1 Doubles

Peak to Peak’s Ranye Ezenekwe and Sydney Parkinson clawed back 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in their tilt to advance to the finals.

Ezenekwe and Parkinson will face Steamboat Springs pair Kelsey Norland and Evan Quinn, who won their semifinals match 6-2, 6-2.

No. 2 Doubles

The match between Colorado Academy’s Josie Hicks/Anna Johnson and D’Evelyn’s Sabre Schulte/Sky Young will resume Saturday morning after a lightning postponed the match.

Aria Webster and Kamryn Mitchell played one of the longest matches of the day to clinch a spot in the championship round.

They won 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 in their semifinals match against Holy Family’s Avery Alderman and Lauren Stonehocker to advance to the final match.

No. 3 Doubles

Vail Christian pair Sofie Brunner and Jenna Elalayli improved to 16-0 as a duo and advanced to the finals without allowing more than two game points by opponents.

They’ll face Peak to Peak’s Josie Adams and Rory West, who used a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 victory in the semifinals to advance to the championship round.

No. 4 Doubles

Holy Family’s Katelyn Morris and Alesandra Wise advanced to the finals after a 6-5, 6-7, 6-2 win in the semifinals.

The duo faces Vail Christian’s Heidi Iverson and Sofia Elalayli, who won 6-4, 7-6 in the semis, in the championship round.