Eagles land in title match: RMA girls tennis advances to state championship
Patrick Mason Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Haven Ross and the Rocky Mount Academy girls’ tennis team needed to get past Hickory University Christian on Tuesday to earn a spot in the 2-A NCISAA state championship match. Just the thought made Ross feel queasy.
“A lot of us were nervous and excited,” Ross said. “It was the combination of both that turns your stomach in knots.”
That feeling went away quick as the Eagles jumped out to an early lead by sweeping the three doubles matches, and RMA went on to secure an 8-1 victory over University Christian in the semifinals to advance to the state championship match on Saturday at Salem Academy in Winston-Salem.
The Eagles will face Trinity Academy (8-3), which beat O’Neal School in Tuesday’s other semifinal.
University Christian (11-1) was the last remaining undefeated team in 2-A before the loss to the Eagles. The Barracudas had even won their previous three outings without losing a match, including a 6-0 victory over Faith Christian School on Oct. 19 to reach the semifinals.
It was that win by the Barracudas over the Patriots that sent a message to the Eagles players. RMA, too, had beaten Faith Christian earlier this season without dropping a match, so the players figured that the Barracudas were on par with their talent.
“They played Faith before us and didn’t lose a court,” Ross said. “And that’s how we played (Faith) so we weren't sure what to expect.”
The Eagles (16-1) were never in danger of losing, however, as they took control right away as the match kicked off with doubles matches. RMA won all three in dominant fashion.
Ross and Ann Sumner Thorp won at No. 1 doubles, 8-1, Caroline Gay and Ada Everette earned an 8-3 win at No. 2, and the No. 3 pairing of Lillie Daughteridge and Shelton Honey won 8-2.
That early effort took a considerable amount of pressure off the singles portion of the match, as the Eagles needed just two wins out of the remaining six to clinch the victory.
“It gives you a huge advantage because then you just need two singles,” Thorp said of the quick start. “It was exciting.”
Ross won at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-1, and Thorp added a win at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1, to seal the win. At No. 4, Everette won 8-4, 6-0. At No. 5, Honey needed three sets to earn a 6-2, 2-6 10-7 win.
Daughtridge won her first set and was leading in the second set when her match was called due to darkness with the overall outcome already decided, and Gay was losing when her match was called.
The Eagles lost in the semifinals last season, and have never won a state title in program history. Raleigh St. David’s, now competing in 3-A, won the past five 2-A championships. And with St. David’s moving up a class, RMA finds itself in a perfect situation.
The Eagles haven’t lost in doubles yet this season, and if that streak continues on Saturday they will be a tough out.
“We always have a mindset of ‘You have to win all the singles,’” Ross said. “But when we win three doubles there’s less pressure. If I lose a point or a game it’s OK because I know someone else has your back. All we need is two.”
Now, all RMA needs in one.
Patrick Mason Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Haven Ross and the Rocky Mount Academy girls’ tennis team needed to get past Hickory University Christian on Tuesday to earn a spot in the 2-A NCISAA state championship match. Just the thought made Ross feel queasy.
“A lot of us were nervous and excited,” Ross said. “It was the combination of both that turns your stomach in knots.”
That feeling went away quick as the Eagles jumped out to an early lead by sweeping the three doubles matches, and RMA went on to secure an 8-1 victory over University Christian in the semifinals to advance to the state championship match on Saturday at Salem Academy in Winston-Salem.
The Eagles will face Trinity Academy (8-3), which beat O’Neal School in Tuesday’s other semifinal.
University Christian (11-1) was the last remaining undefeated team in 2-A before the loss to the Eagles. The Barracudas had even won their previous three outings without losing a match, including a 6-0 victory over Faith Christian School on Oct. 19 to reach the semifinals.
It was that win by the Barracudas over the Patriots that sent a message to the Eagles players. RMA, too, had beaten Faith Christian earlier this season without dropping a match, so the players figured that the Barracudas were on par with their talent.
“They played Faith before us and didn’t lose a court,” Ross said. “And that’s how we played (Faith) so we weren't sure what to expect.”
The Eagles (16-1) were never in danger of losing, however, as they took control right away as the match kicked off with doubles matches. RMA won all three in dominant fashion.
Ross and Ann Sumner Thorp won at No. 1 doubles, 8-1, Caroline Gay and Ada Everette earned an 8-3 win at No. 2, and the No. 3 pairing of Lillie Daughteridge and Shelton Honey won 8-2.
That early effort took a considerable amount of pressure off the singles portion of the match, as the Eagles needed just two wins out of the remaining six to clinch the victory.
“It gives you a huge advantage because then you just need two singles,” Thorp said of the quick start. “It was exciting.”
Ross won at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-1, and Thorp added a win at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1, to seal the win. At No. 4, Everette won 8-4, 6-0. At No. 5, Honey needed three sets to earn a 6-2, 2-6 10-7 win.
Daughtridge won her first set and was leading in the second set when her match was called due to darkness with the overall outcome already decided, and Gay was losing when her match was called.
The Eagles lost in the semifinals last season, and have never won a state title in program history. Raleigh St. David’s, now competing in 3-A, won the past five 2-A championships. And with St. David’s moving up a class, RMA finds itself in a perfect situation.
The Eagles haven’t lost in doubles yet this season, and if that streak continues on Saturday they will be a tough out.
“We always have a mindset of ‘You have to win all the singles,’” Ross said. “But when we win three doubles there’s less pressure. If I lose a point or a game it’s OK because I know someone else has your back. All we need is two.”
Now, all RMA needs in one.
