The longest run in Missouri girls high school tennis history is over.

St. Joseph's Academy had been to the last 16 state finals, winning a record 13, including the last five. But the the Angels were upset by Ladue 5-1 Saturday in the Class 2 quarterfinals.

The 2009 Rams not only became the first Ladue team since 1992 to get to the final four but also did a huge favor to Ladue's teams of the late 1980s and early '90s.

The Angels were looking to become the first team in state history to win six in succession. Ladue is now still in the record book with five consecutive state titles from 1988-92. That mark was equaled by St. Joe's in 1994-98 and again in 2004-08.

An injury to a key player is going to affect any high school team. But it is even more so in tennis, especially when the player is a defending state champion.

St. Joe's senior Misia Kedzierski, who won state singles titles in 2006 and 2008, suffered an ankle injury in districts and was lost for the season. That meant that every Angel player had to move up a spot in the lineup. Katie Thome, who played No. 2 singles, moved to No. 1, Madeline Jolly moved from No. 3 to No. 2 and so on.

"I was hoping against hope that we might be able to overcome Misia's loss but it was not meant to be," St Joe's coach Doug Smith said. "The Ladue girls definitely came to play and it was their day. I have to tip my hat to them and wish them luck at the state tournament."

The Rams had to scramble to find accommodations in Springfield after they did not qualify any players to the individual phase of the tournament, which will be played Friday and Saturday. It is rare for a team to qualify at state without any individuals.

"There were a lot of fans and a lot of other coaches at our match against St. Joe's and I could tell there was a buzz in the air," Ladue coach Jason Theodosiou said. "I realized that St. Joe's had won five in a row and I mentioned that at the banquet Friday. I didn't realize that they had been to the championship match 16 years in a row, though. Every single one of my girls had to elevate their play against them and they did so. They played awesome tennis."

They played so well that they clinched the match without having to go to doubles. Freshman Lindsey Whitehead lost to Thome at No. 1 singles. But freshman Annie Kopp, senior Abby Sophir, sophomore Kelsey Bearman, senior Katherine Glaser and junior Natalie Jarmon all won their matches and did so in straight sets.

Ladue will play St. Teresa's Academy in one of the Class 2 semifinals at 9 this morning at the Cooper Tennis Complex.

The Rams will be joined by another area school in the Class 2 semis. Marquette, which made it to the final four for the first time last year, is back. The Mustangs will play Rock Bridge this morning.

Visitation Academy and MICDS advanced to the final four in Class 1 and hope to meet for the state title this afternoon. Visitation, which has not won a state championship since 1987, will play Bishop LeBlond in one semifinal this morning. MICDS has won six state titles, the last in 2006. The Rams will play defending champion Notre Dame de Sion in the other Class 1 semifinal.