Natalie Benenati and Emma Brooks stand together after the Section IV Class B tournament where the two placed third. The Tornado duo will now play a match this week to earn a spot at the Section IV qualifiers in Binghamton. (Submitted Photo)

HORSEHEADS – Emma Brooks and Natalie Benenati placed third at the Section IV Class B championship tennis tournament as the two played for the first time this season as doubles partners while Erica Gage and Logan Fredenburg, Brooke Diehl and Chloe Glanville also participated in the championships to represent the Norwich Lady Purple Tornado.

Norwich head coach Nikki Brooks decided to put her season’s four single players into the doubles teams while moving her top doubles team into the singles division.

Diehl drew a first round bye on the singles side of the tournament and faced Angelique deRouen of Vestal, the field top seed. Diehl was downed in straight sets to the eventual singles Section IV champion, ending her tournament appearance earlier than hoped.

Glanville also played singles and faced Johnson City’s Madyson Sullivan in the opening round of tennis. The Norwich player battled Sullivan in the first game before losing 6-4. The Wildcats’ No. 2 ended Glanville’s chances for a medal early by winning the next set 6-2.

Gage and Fredenburg, Norwich’s No. 2 doubles team for the championship, drew a first-round bye and moved into the quarterfinals against Maine-Endwell’s No.1 doubles team of Sophie Pelton and Angela Thomas.