Area netters have tough outings in state tournament

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 18, 2008 2:02 AM

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The small contingent of area players participating in the N.C. High School Athletic Association men's individual tennis championships emerged the victim of first-round losses on Friday morning.

At Burlington, Lake Norman's Trey McKee turned back two-time eastern regional singles champion Blake Vail 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (2). Vail, a sophomore at Charles B. Aycock, suffered his first defeat in 31 outings this season.

Eastern Wayne's Drew Jackson dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision to Lake Norman's Andrew McKinnon.

In doubles, Aycock's Addison Westbrook-Blake Cooper endured a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Gastonia Forestview's pair of Brandon Rouse-Ross Wilson. Fellow Golden Falcons Ben Evans-Dylan Quinn encountered the same fate with a 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Statesville's Luke Gillis-Tripp Hawkins.

At Cary, Greene Central's doubles of Eric Simmons-Trey Cash claimed the opening set against Lenoir Hibriten's Avery Nelson-Huntley Nero in the 2-A ranks. But Nelson-Nero rebounded for a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.

Spring Creek's duo of Daniel Richter-Colby Strickland were dealt a 6-1, 6-1 loss by Mt. Airy's Nickolus John-Dusty Roberson.

C.B. Aycock (20-2 overall) entertains Eastern Wayne (14-5) in a third-round, NCHSAA dual-team match on Tuesday. The winner faces either No. 1-ranked Southern Nash or perennial power Western Alamance on Thursday.