Girls tennis: Avon Lake's Elizabeth Meiners and Autumn Korey feel like winners just making state

It's no surprise Elizabeth Meiners and Autumn Korey received a difficult state tournament draw. Being the only No. 6 seed in the Division I doubles field, the Avon Lake duo received the toughest possible first-round opponent: Mason's Pratyusha Chaudhuri and Emma Wagner, the defending state champions. Regardless of what happens when play begins at the College of Wooster on Thursday at 9 a.m., Meiners and Korey will be able to check off a goal that most high school athletes never achieve. "It's amazing," Meiners said. "I battled through so many injuries — I didn't play my freshman year — I thought I would never go to state. Just to go to state with Autumn is a great accomplishment. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for my mom and dad. They've been so supportive every step of the way and I'm truly grateful that they've been so supportive." Both players have been key to the Shoregals' success the past four seasons and helped them break through and win their first conference championship since 2019, going 7-0 in the regular season. They're 9-3 as a team, including 6-3 in the postseason. The only time they got to play together in the regular season was when they teamed up to win the first doubles title at the Highland Invitational on Sept. 7. Korey is about to wrap up her career as a four-year starter and one of the top players in the Southwestern Conference. She's won three conference tournament titles — second singles in 2021, third singles in 2023 and first doubles with Avery Brown this season. Korey also was runner-up at second singles in 2022. She's a two-time state qualifier, both in doubles, and she and her twin sister, Amber, reached the state tournament last year as the district runners-up. Korey is 27-6 overall this season while playing mostly first doubles in the regular season. "I'm really excited," Korey said. "It's awesome that we get to go together. I think we're great partners and hopefully we do well." Meiners likely also would have been a four-year starter had she not lost her freshman year to multiple knee injuries that required two surgeries, one in eighth grade and one right before tennis tryouts her freshman year. But Meiners persevered, recovering fully in time to join the team as a sophomore. And ever since the surgeries, she's not had a setback. She mostly played third singles in 2022, then became the team's No. 2 singles player the last two seasons behind Amber Korey. On occasion, Meiners would slide into the No. 1 slot. She played singles the last two postseasons, reaching the quarterfinals of the Magnificat sectional last year. She's 27-6 overall this season and won her first SWC championship — at second singles — in addition to earning her first district and state bids. "Just never giving up," Meiners said. "I always believed in myself and the people around me. My family, my friends, my coaches, they've all been there for me. Telling me to not give up and to keep fighting, it's been a great ride." Contact Chris Sweeney at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on X.