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The performance of his senior captains left Christ Church boys tennis coach Bobby Austell overcome with emotion Wednesday.

Jim Pennell and Jim Yarbrough played key roles in the Cavaliers' 5-1 triumph over visiting St. Joseph's in the Class AA/A Upper State championship match.

Christ Church (12-5) will play Waccamaw in the state final at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. The teams have met in each of the last four state finals, with the Cavaliers winning three, including last year's match.

Pennell, playing at No. 4 singles, rallied after losing the first set and eventually won in a third-set tiebreaker. Yarbrough teamed with Preston Freeman to win at No. 2 doubles.

"That was a senior captain, and it was his last home match," Austell said of Pennell. "Yarbrough, our other senior captain, played his first match of the year. He had been injured since the first of February. You wouldn't believe the therapy he's been through. He played his first match at No. 2 doubles.

"So it was two seniors in their last home match. If you want to say, 'Seniors bring it home,' that's appropriate."

The Cavaliers also got a big effort at No. 1 singles from Hayes Sherman, who outlasted David Reed 11-9 in a third-set tiebreaker.

Christ Church's other wins came from Wes Quattlebaum at No. 2 and Walker Carroll at No. 5.

Patrick Mobley recorded the lone victory for St. Joseph's (11-4), winning at No. 3 singles.

"I'm very proud of these guys," said Knights coach Sean Chapman. "As a coach, you want to win, but you also want them to learn how to push themselves to the end and for it to break their hearts to lose. If it doesn't, then you know you haven't played like you should, and they're heartbroken, because we felt like we had a chance.

"These guys have been together for four or five years, and we were really hoping to win this. It was the type of ending with guys playing for each other and giving everything they had, and that's all you can ask for."