INDEPENDENCE — Keira Fawson’s hopes for a state bid nearly ended as soon as they started.
The Iola High sophomore rallied from a 4-1 deficit in a third-set tiebreaker against Ellie Valentine-Florence of Parsons in the opening round of Saturday’s Class 4A Regional Tournament.
A loss would have ended Fawson’s season.
But she dug down and forged a 6-6 tie, as the pair traded volley shots and momentum swings on a regular basis.
It was Fawson who earned the last laugh, scoring the last two points in a 6-4, 0-6 and 11-9 victory.