MORRISVILLE — With three singles matches going to split-set tiebreakers, it was by the closest of margins that Broughton eked out a 6-3 win over Green Hope on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the NCHSAA 4-A team tennis playoffs.

The undefeated Capitals won two of the three tiebreakers, giving them a 4-2 advantage heading into doubles, where they clinched the win after its third-seed doubles pair won 10-2.

Coaches of both teams said they afterwards they had never experienced a match where so many key matches went into tiebreakers.

“This was crazy. The competition that Green Hope gave us today was by far the hardest we've had all year. We felt fortunate to come out with two out of the three tiebreakers,” Broughton coach David Rose said. “I don't know if things would've ended up the same way if we hadn't gotten two out of those three tiebreakers at least.”

The heroics began with Broughton's No. 2 seed Katie Davidson. Davidson, who was a member of last year's 3-A NCISAA champion Ravenscroft, became visibly upset after dropping her first set 6-2 to Helen Wang.

Rather than let emotion overcome her, Davidson channeled her feelings into points. She quickly reversed her match's favor with a 6-3 win in the second set, forcing a tiebreaker where she won 10-5.

Although the courts at the Cary Tennis Center were spread out, others seemed to feed off Davidson's momentum, and her vocal encouragement to those around her.

“Katie showed a lot of heart,” Rose said. “She's shown leadership all year. She wants this as much as anybody I've probably ever seen.”

Davidson clinched the tiebreaker, as did 3-seed singles Asha Iyenger — who was down 5-3 in the first set before coming back to win 6-7, 6-4,(10-6). Green Hope's Audrey Channell, who played long rally after long rally against Broughton's Laura Robertson, won her tiebreaker in a 2-6, 6-1 (10-6).

“It was certainly unique in that respect … We won one of the three,” Green Hope Kevin Taylor said of the tiebreakers. “And that's the difference going 4-2 or 3-3 going into doubles.”

Also winning for Green Hope was state semifinalist and No. 1 seed Melissa Kandinata. Kandinata, whose only loss in singles came in the state semis, dismissed Hamilton Lovett 6-1, 6-2.

Kandinata and Wang teamed up for the Falcons' third and final point when they defeated Davidson and Lovett in a battle of No. 1 doubles teams, 10-6.

For the Falcons, who end their season 20-3, they can take solace in the fact they were the first team to take more than one singles match from Broughton this year.

“I think we have a lot to be proud of and build on,” Taylor said.

Neither team had a senior in the line-up.

“It just shows you how close the programs are. They're a good team and I wish them luck in the next rounds,” Taylor said. “Chances are, we see them again next year.”

Broughton got its first team point when 6-seeded Kelsey Boole won 6-0, 6-2 over Brianna Steele. Third-seeded Katie Kane gave the Caps another with a 6-1, 6-2 win in straight sets.

Iyenger and Kane, who were coming off winning the individual 4-A doubles championship on Saturday, played second doubles for Broughton and won 10-5.

Robertson and Boole were the doubles team that clinched thewin for the Caps when they got off the court first with a 10-3 win.