CBA starts slow, eventually rolls past So. Wayne

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 21, 2014 1:48 PM

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DUDLEY -- Once Charles B. Aycock warmed up Thursday afternoon, it's experience and consistent play emerged as the deciding factors against county boys' tennis rival Southern Wayne.

The Golden Falcons shook off some early-set rust and cruised to a 9-0 win on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene. Aycock extended its modest win streak to three matches after an 0-3 start.

"I actually think we played pretty well today considering all of the (recent) factors because we haven't really been on the court for almost a week," first-year CBA head coach Summer Pennington said. "I think it was really nice for them to get out and actually play some. They didn't look as rusty as I was anticipating, so that was good news.

"They played smart, didn't try to overdo it. They were all aware they hadn't played in a long time."

The Saints (0-5 overall, 0-4 ECC) captured the initial game on four singles courts. But the Golden Falcons remained steady and followed Pennington's season-long mantra of keeping balls in play, which eventually led to unforced errors by Southern Wayne.

"We've got guys who are putting up a good fight," SW head coach John Fonvielle said. "Their attitude and aggressiveness has been good all season, and it was good today. We have a ways to go to catch up with Aycock. They certainly had the best of us today.

"We're not as consistent yet, which has been our biggest issue and what we're working on right now. I can see they're thinking out there, though, looking for ways to win."

Top-seeded Addison Vail, third-seeded Jackson Yelverton and sixth-seeded Nick Coston combined to lose just one game in six sets for the Golden Falcons. Fourth-seeded Allan Best prevailed 6-4, 6-0 over the Saints' Jackson Carter.

Fifth-seeded Stanton Head won 6-3, 6-1. Teammate Chas Hooks trailed early, but eventually cruised past Wesley Dail 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 2 flight.

"Chas has a very fluid game," Pennington said. "When he's on, everything is flowing smoothly and that's how it was last week when we played Eastern Wayne. I think today he was like everyone else ... just tried to get the kinks out and once he did that, he cruised right on through."

Aycock swept the doubles courts with Vail-Hooks, Yelverton-Best and Head-Coston each winning in decisive fashion.

"They're showing some progress and willingness to learn," Fonvielle said. "I told them our biggest goal for the year is to be a better tennis player after each match, and they're doing their best to achieve that."