Rams topple Golden Falcon tennis team

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 21, 2008 1:35 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Greene Central triumphed in two third-set tiebreakers on the singles scene and rolled past perennial power Charles B. Aycock 9-0 on a sun-splashed, but warm Wednesday afternoon.

The Rams received three-set decisions from third-seeded Samantha Taylor and sixth-seeded Abbey Dail. Taylor turned back Hollie Baker 7-5, 1-6, 10-5. Dail eased past Casey Whitfield 6-3, 3-6, 10-4.

"We played a very solid match today," said Greene Central head coach, whose team won the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A dual-team title a year ago.

"C.B. Aycock is rebuilding this year after losing six starters to graduation, but new head coach Brad Matthews has already instilled the Aycock tradition in this team."

The teams battled for four hours.

Top-seeded Elizabeth McLawhorn, second-seeded Lauren Carraway, fourth-seeded Jessica Gray and fifth-seeded Abby Sugg each claimed a straight-set singles win. Sugg did not lose a game.

"Jessica played a very good match," said Clark. "She had a very tough first set, but she kept making adjustments in her game throughout the match, and posted a solid win."

Greene Central collected doubles points from McLawhorn-Carraway, Sugg-Hayes Lovett and Taylor-Brittany Colie. McLawhorn-Carraway remained unbeaten in two matches this season.

The Rams (2-0 overall) open the home portion of their schedule today against Wilson Fike, which returns all six starters from last year. Greene Central is ranked No. 3 in the preseason N.C. High School Tennis Coaches Association 2-A poll, while Fike is second in the 3-A poll.

C.B. Aycock (1-1) visits East Duplin (0-2) this afternoon.

Greene Central 9

C.B. Aycock 0

Singles -- No. 1 Elizabeth McLawhorn (GC) d. Ashley Howell 6-3, 6-0; No. 2 Lauren Carraway (GC) d. Kristen Fisher 6-3, 6-2; No. 3 Samantha Taylor (GC) d. Hollie Baker 7-5, 1-6, 10-5; No. 4 Jessica Gray (GC) d. Abbey Strickland 7-5, 6-3; No. 5 Abby Sugg (GC) d. Nicole Kessler 6-0, 6-0; No. 6 Abbey Dail (GC) d. Casey Whitfield 6-3, 3-6, 10-4.

Doubles -- No. 1 McLawhorn-Carraway (GC) d. Howell-Fisher 8-2; No. 2 Sugg-Hayes Lovett (GC) d. Strickland-Kessler 8-5; No. 3 Taylor-Brittany Colie (GC) d. Baker-Amanda Farmer 8-4.