Tennis -- C.B. Aycock team knocks off unbeatens

By David Rouse
Published in Sports on April 23, 2004 1:58 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock's No. 1 doubles of Danny Fairchild-Brandon Howard pulled off a huge victory in their 7-2 loss against West Carteret on Thursday afternoon.

Fairchild-Howard handed the Patriots' Dhiran Patel-Billy Rawls their first loss of the season 9-7 in doubles play. Patel-Horne were state quarterfinalists a year ago.

Howard also claimed the Golden Falcons' lone singles victory. He rallied from an opening-set loss to edge Horne 6-7 (4), 6-4, 8-6.

League-leading West Carteret claimed a third-set tiebreaker at No. 4 singles and pulled out a second-set tiebreaker at No. 5. The Patriots escaped with a two-point victory at No. 2 doubles and a three-point decision at No. 3.

"West Carteret played well on the big points," Aycock coach Luke Vail said. "We made too many mistakes at critical times in the match."

Aycock (7-6) dropped to 6-3 in Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference play and entertains Kinston next Monday at 4 p.m.

West Carteret (12-0) exited 9-0 in the ECC.

West Carteret 7, C.B. Aycock 2

Singles -- No. 1 Dhiran Patel (WC) d. Danny Fairchild 6-3, 6-4; No. 2 Brandon Howard (CBA) d. Wes Horne 6-7 (4), 6-4, 8-6; No. 3 Billy Rawls (WC) d. Sean Kelly 6-1, 6-4; No. 4 Billy Coulter (WC) d. David Dodson 6-3, 2-6, 10-8; No. 5 Frank Gainey (WC) d. David Williams 6-3, 7-6 (6); No. 6 Trey Winoski (WC) d. Rich Holder 6-4, 6-2.

Doubles -- No. 1 Fairchild-Howard (CBA) d. Patel-Horne 8-6; No. 2 Horne-Gainey (WC) d. Kelly-Dodson 8-6; No. 3 Coulter-Winoski (WC) d. Williams-John Ball 8-5.