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If the final match of Lynnsey Lu’s first high school girls tennis season had gone differently, her freshman campaign would have been considered one of the best debuts the state has ever seen.
Perhaps even more impressive than her sister’s opening act eight years ago, when Niwot great Lucy Lu won the first of two 4A No. 1 singles state titles.
But Colorado’s 2026 spring season ultimately belonged to Valor Christian’s Caroline Daugherty — the senior and University of Denver commit who became the state’s first three-time 5A No. 1 singles champion in more than 20 years. She handed Lu her first loss in high school in the finals, 7-6, 6-2.
“I’m planning to do (girls tennis) next year because I kind of want redemption for this year,” said Lu, the Daily Camera girls tennis player of the year. “I think I could have done better.”
If not for the sour ending, Lu’s “could have done better” would sound a bit like a valedictorian wishing, if only, they could’ve added a few more points to their school-best GPA.
Only two of her wins this spring required more than the minimum 12 games. Those came back in April at the Ralston Valley Invitational, when she beat both Daugherty and Cherry Creek’s Autumn Doyle in three sets.
And once she reached the state tournament earlier this month, she dropped just six games across three straight-set victories to reach the 5A No. 1 singles final.
There, however, Daugherty leaned on her experience, rallying to win the opening set en route to ending the freshman phenom’s unbeaten season.
“You know, a lot of times when you have players that are that good, they bypass high school tennis,” Legacy coach Jeff Zinke said of his first-year star. “But the young lady that beat her in the state finals, Caroline Daugherty, she could have gone that route and not played high school tennis, and she chose to play and win state those last three years. And I believe she’ll relish it for the rest of her life.”
Ultimately, that’ll have to be the sales pitch to Lu. Her sister Lucy won as a freshman and sophomore at Niwot before bypassing the high school season in her final two years. She went on to play at the University of Minnesota and UC Santa Barbara.
“Over the summer she’s going to help with my tennis,” the younger sister said of Lucy. “We’re probably going to hit a lot.”
Lynnsey is also planning to play in multiple national events over the summer, including an upcoming level-two tournament in Minnesota.
Consider it the start of her redemption tour.
“That type of player — that’s how they get better and better,” Zinke said. “Just playing and playing and playing.”
The BoCoPreps.com area had five players make CHSAA’s all-state list in girls tennis.
Lu led the way on Class 5A’s first team. The fantastic freshman was unbeaten before falling to Daugherty in the finals.
Meanwhile, Niwot’s No. 4 doubles team of Hazel Awsumb and Amy Calderon were named 4A first teamers after winning a state title. In the 4-doubles finals, the juniors beat Cheyenne Mountain in three sets.
In 3A, Prospect Ridge’s Shannon Schmidt was also a first teamer. The junior finished runner-up at No. 2 singles and led the Miners to a second-place finish in the 3A team championships. She was undefeated on the season before falling to Severance’s Josephine Carter in the 3A No. 2 singles final.
Dawson’s Olivia Kirby was named to 3A’s second team after the sophomore reached the No. 1 singles quarterfinals.
View a list of Prep sports and high school teams we cover.
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