St. Aloysius punched its ticket to the Class 1A state team tennis championship with a 4-3 win over Greenville-St. Joseph Wednesday afternoon at Cypress Hills Country Club.

The Flashes (11-2) will face Sacred Heart of Hattiesburg for the 1A team title next Wednesday at Millsaps College.

St. Al coach Rick Shields said the match with the Irish was tougher than expected. St. Al had beaten St. Joseph 6-1 in an earlier match and easily won the district tournament in Greenville as well.

“Due to some lineup changes, it proved to be a little more difficult, but we prevailed,” Shields said.

St. Al got a big lift from senior Ashleigh Piazza, who won her girls’ singles match 6-0, 6-2.

“Ashleigh’s been leading us all year from the girls’ side,” Shields said.

St. Al boys’ singles player Austin Mathis rolled in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.

The mixed doubles team of Aaron Mathis and Alexa Baldizon came back from a tough first set to win 7-5, 6-1.

The Flashes clinched the North State title match in No. 1 boys’ doubles where the defending 1A draw champions, Michael Foley and Steven Cialone won 6-1, 6-1.

Greenville-St. Joe got its points by winning both of the girls doubles matches and No. 2 boys doubles.