Warrior netters dominate New Bern

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 28, 2007 1:47 PM

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Tired of intra-squad challenge matches and anxious to see some unfamiliar faces, the Eastern Wayne women's tennis team got off to a good beginning Monday afternoon.

The Warriors opened their 2007 campaign with a 9-0 whitewashing of New Bern on the Wayne Community College courts.

"They were ready to play somebody other than themselves," said Eastern Wayne head coach Nancy Dawson. "The next thing (to accomplish) was to build confidence and also find out where we had some deficits. Plus, we wanted to get the nerves out since they're all playing different positions than they were last year.

"We know we have some kinks and we have to get them worked out."

The Bears (2-2 overall), however, couldn't expose the chinks in the Warriors' armor. With five returning starters, Eastern Wayne (1-0) contested every ball and played consistent on the tight points.

"New Bern's lineup was almost the same as last year," said Dawson. "I feel like ball to ball, we were more competitive this year (with them) than last year. When the girls got behind, they came back to win."

Dawson was especially pleased with third-seeded Mollie Musgrave and top-seeded Lindsey Frederick. Musgrave rallied from an 8-2 deficit in the third-set tiebreaker and turned back the Bears' Mollie Hunter 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.

Frederick trailed 5-4 in the second set against Kara Clowers. But the second-year starter took the final three games and a 6-2, 7-5 decision.

"Mollie, I think she got a burst of confidence," said Dawson. "The other wasn't making many mistakes and Mollie was having to win the points. She got focused when she realized it was do or die. I was proud of her for not giving up.

"Lindsey's comeback was just awesome."

Junior Emily Northington notched the Warriors' first singles win of 2007 -- a 6-0, 6-0 shellacking of Sam Junak at No. 6. Sophomore Danielle Daniel, the lone newcomer to Eastern Wayne's lineup, stopped Megan Vary 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 5 slot.

Second-seeded Lauren Bynum, who played No. 1 last season, and Casie Musgrave each posted a straight-set victory. Musgrave lost just two games, while Bynum prevailed 6-2, 6-3.

"Casie was much better today than I've seen her play in practice," said Dawson. "She just made up her mind that she wasn't going to lose. I think today was a good beginning for everybody and we saw some good stuff.

"I am waiting to see how they handle it (the success) and how much they are willing to work. So far, they've had some good work ethic. And as long as they're hungry and want to work, I'm good with them."

Eastern Wayne 9

New Bern 0

Singles: No. 1 Lindsey Frederick (EW) d. Kara Clowers 6-2, 7-5; No. 2 Lauren Bynum (EW) d. Alex Cella 6-2, 6-3; No. 3 Mollie Musgrave (EW) d. Mollie Hunter 6-3, 2-6, 10-8; No. 4 Casie Musgrave (EW) d. Katie Allen 6-0, 6-2; No. 5 Danielle Daniel (EW) d. Megan Vary 6-2, 6-1; No. 6 Emily Northington (EW) d. Sam Junak 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles: No. 1 Bynum-C. Musgrave (EW) d. Clowers-Cella 8-4; No. 2 Frederick-M. Musgrave (EW) d. Hunter-Allen 8-0; No. 3 Daniel-Kelsi Yates (EW) d. Vary-Junak 8-3.

Records: Eastern Wayne 1-0, New Bern 2-2

Next match: Eastern Wayne, Sept. 4 at Southern Wayne.