In Saturday’s NCHSAA 3A singles state championship final at Burlington Tennis Center, Terry Sanford’s Pauline Bui stumbled to a 3-6 first-set loss.
In the brightest spotlight, the sophomore faced a new challenge – trailing for the first time in the postseason. Bui had plowed through the first three rounds of the bracket while losing just five sets and winning 36.
It was new territory, but her focus was consistent.
“I told her, ‘Hey, we’re just going to play an extra set now,’ ” Bulldogs tennis coach Christopher Goodman said. “She believed it, and she went out and executed her game plan.”
Bui rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Carrboro’s Ryan Hanes to win the singles crown, adding it to her doubles title from last season with Loren Galaviz and giving Terry Sanford an incredible 16 state championships in girls tennis (eight doubles, four singles, four dual-team titles).
A four-star prospect ranked No. 3 in the state by Tennis Recruiting Network, Bui smashes lasers an inch over the net with a consistency that seems almost mechanical; but smoother. Her skill set and game IQ are obvious, but Goodman sees something more important in the two-time state champ.