There was a sign that there could be a new Class 5A girls tennis team state champion when Coronado defeated five-time defending state champion Palo Verde in the regular season.

“It showed our girls that we were capable of winning. It showed our girls that we were at the level and no longer the little sister,” Coronado coach David Willingham said. “We were there.”

Willingham’s team showed that its regular-season win was no fluke Friday when No. 1-seeded Coronado defeated No. 2 Palo Verde 10-7 to win the 5A state title.

“I want to say I’m so excited, but (I’m as) much excited as I am relieved because of the fact that we worked so hard to get to this place,” Willingham said. “Palo (Verde) is a great team, they’ve been a great program for years. To finally come to a point where we could tak

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