LEXINGTON — Notre Dame sophomores Molly Molony and Jackie Vilines were a twin force in Northern Kentucky singles tennis this season. On Saturday, they became the best doubles team in the state.

        Molony and Vilines, the third seeds, won the title at the University of Kentucky with a 6-2, 7-5 win over top-seeded Anna and Rachel Lask of Kentucky Country Day. It was their second upset — they knocked off No.2 Amanda Beckman and Casie Skaggs of Paducah Lone Oak 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals.

        For Molony, Saturday was her time to contribute to her family's trophy case — older sisters Kara and Lyndsey Molony won the state doubles in 1997.

        Said Vilines: “We were ready from Day 1. My God, it hasn't sunk in yet.”

        Molony and Vilines nearly sank against Beckman and Skaggs. Molony said they were caught looking ahead to the Lasks.

        “They also started coming in (to the net) and putting pressure on us,” Molony said.

        Molony and Vilines succeeded in pulling the Lasks wide off the court — until halfway through the second set, when the Lasks won three of four games to tie the set 5-5.

        Molony and Vilines then broke Anna Lask's serve, and Vilines served out the match.

        “We weren't expected to win, so we went out to see what we could do,” Molony said.

        Three other Northern Kentuckians lost in the semifinals. Covington Latin senior Miriam Rahali fell to eventual state champ Sarah Suitor of Lone Oak 6-1, 6-4 in girls singles, and Beechwood seniors Ashley Busald and Billy Hopkins lost to eventual boys doubles champions David Trier and Travis Triplett of Louisville St.Xavier, 6-2, 6-4.

        At 15, Rahali was the youngest player in the field. But that didn't matter. She finished her high school career with three consecutive regional titles, a second-place state finish in 1999 and semifinal berths her final two years.

        Rahali plans to play tennis and study pre-law at Columbia University next fall.

        “I'm looking forward to college tennis,” Rahali said.

        Busald and Hopkins also can be proud of what they did the past five years. In addition to Saturday, they won regional doubles in '97, '99 and this year.

        Molony, Vilines and Rahali made the girls all-state team. Busald, Hopkins and Dixie Heights senior Justin Yeager made the boys squad.

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