Free State High junior Ali Dodd congratulates her doubles partner, senior Andrea Chen, after a win Saturday at the Class 6A girls tennis state tournament at the Kossover Center in Topeka.

Topeka ? Moments after walking off the court for the last time this season, junior Ali Dodd and senior Andrea Chen weren’t sure how to feel.

The Free State girls tennis duo ended their season with a 9-7 victory over Kennedy Menke and Nicole Alfaro, of Olathe South, to place seventh in the Class 6A state tournament on Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Chen said. “It’s unbelievable really. I never would have thought we would be standing here seventh in the state. We’ve come so far since the beginning of the season.”

After Day One of the state tournament Friday, Chen said their goal was to finish in the top-eight. With a 2-1 record on Saturday, they were able to do just that.

As a team, Free State tied for eighth place.

“They were able to play some good tennis when it mattered most, and that’s all you can really ask for,” interim coach Michael Trujillo said.

Dodd and Chen’s seventh-place finish is the highest by a FSHS doubles pairing since Kelly Phipps and Alexis Czapinski placed sixth at state in 2010.

In their last match, a comfortable 7-4 lead over Olathe South turned into a 7-7 tie. Chen held serve in a service game that lasted more than five minutes and Free State closed out the match in the next game.

“Both of them did well to step up their level to end the match,” Trujillo said. “When you lose a lead you can either cower and roll over or battle back and fight for the match. Our girls did a very good job coming up big when it mattered.”

Dodd and Chen were frustrated with their sloppy play that allowed Olathe South back in the match, but they were able to keep each other calm.

“That’s one of the best things about us,” Dodd said. “I think we always encourage each other, and we are always telling each other to move on to the next point.”

In the first match, Dodd and Chen fought through wind to beat Elise Byers and Daya Chimakadze, of Olathe East, 9-5 despite falling behind early in the match.

Dodd and Chen came up short against Blue Valley North’s Bridget Brown and Sydnee Paisner, 9-3, but responded with a win in the seventh-place match.

“I think that’s where our teamwork shines,” Chen said. “I thought we responded really well. We play every point and go after every ball.”

Dodd will be back for one more season, but Chen played her last match for Free State. Chen said she’s satisfied with her high school career, especially with the way this season ended.

Chen was the only FSHS senior in the varsity lineup and their coach was inexperienced as well. Trujillo, who was named interim coach a week before the season began, said he got comfortable with the job after a few weeks.

“There’s definitely a steep learning curve going into any 6A high school at any head coaching position,” Trujillo said. “It turned out to be one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had.”

Class 6A state tournament

Saturday at Kossover Center

Team Results: Blue Valley North 49, Shawnee Mission East 43, Blue Valley Northwest 29, Olathe South 21, Olathe East 13, Shawnee Mission Northwest 12, Blue Valley West 12, Blue Valley 11, Lawrence Free State 11, Topeka Washburn Rural 9, Derby 7, Shawnee Mission South 6, Haysville-Campus 6, Hutchison 5, Olathe North 2, Garden City 1.

Free State Results

Doubles

Ali Dodd/Andrea Chen def. Byers/Chimakadze, OE, 9-3; lost to Brown/Paisner, BVN, 9-3; def. Menke/Alfaro, OS, 9-7.