Free State High seniors Julia Guard and Leigh Luina told themselves during their third-place doubles match they would not end the day with a loss.

They had already qualified Thursday for the Class 6A state tennis tournament, based on their results earlier in the day at the Class 6A regional at the Lawrence Tennis Center. However, Luina and Guard wanted to make sure they had momentum going into state.

The duo won the first set in a tiebreaker, and easily disposed of Olathe Northwest’s Layne Anderson and Lindsay McKneese in the second set for the 7-6, 6-1 victory.

“I think that we really showed it out on the court, how much we wanted it,” Guard said. “That was what I was thinking every volley. I am going to hit this ball like a senior at regionals.”

The win in the final match was important for seeding purposes at the state tournament Oct. 13 and 14 in Wichita. Instead of facing a regional champion, Guard and Luina will face a regional runner-up, and hope to use the same mindset they had in the final match to play well.

“They will be ready to finish out their high school tennis careers at the state tournament,” Free State coach Jon Renberger said. “They don’t have anything to lose. I am hoping that they play with relaxed enjoyment and good things will happen as a result.”

Lawrence High senior Lauren Kelly returns a shot against Free State's Holly Maygers during the Class 6A regional girls tennis tournament. Kelly split her two matches Thursday at the Lawrence Tennis Center.

Guard and Luina easily won their first two matches of the day, but lost in three sets to Sanja Hunia and Lindsay Epperson of Shawnee Mission Northwest in the semifinals.

Renberger felt that, since Guard and Luina had qualified for state last year, they may have felt added pressure in that match.

“I think under other circumstances they win that match,” Renberger said. “I think they did a good job of recovering and winning the last match.”

Luina and Guard plan to use their experience from last year at this year’s state tournament.

“I think it is definitely going to help because we have an idea now of what it is like,” Luina said. “Last year, we were not sure what was going on. This year we will want it more.”

Free State did not qualify any additional players for state.

Free State's Holly Maygers, senior, returns against Lawrence High's Lauren Kelly during the 6A regional girls tennis tournament on Thursday at LHS.

Neither did Lawrence High, but coach Steve Hudson was happy three of this four entries were able to win first-round matches. That helped LHS finish fifth in the eight-team field.

Senior Lauren Kelly led the way for the Lions, winning her first match before losing in three sets to fourth-seeded Jona Jonic of Shawnee Mission Northwest. Kelly lost the first set, but rallied in the second to tie the match. However, in the third set, she found herself down early, and lost, 6-4.

The match marked the end of Hudson and assistant coach Mike Gillam’s first season as coaches at LHS.

“I am disappointed to have the season end and have it end sooner than we wanted to,” Hudson said. “We represented. We played with pride and effort.”