Tennis -- Rams shut out eighth opponent in Spring Creek win

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 26, 2004 1:55 PM

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SNOW HILL -- Greene Central recorded its eighth shutout of the season Thursday afternoon with a 9-0 victory against Spring Creek in a Classes 1-A/2-A Carolina/Eastern Plains Conference boys tennis match.

The Rams (9-0) remained unbeaten in six C/EPC outings.

"I thought we were in a lot of points, but we could never win any games," Spring Creek coach Robert Jones said. "Cliff (Wilson) played very well and stepped his game up a level yesterday to stretch that second set out."

Wilson led top-seeded Andrew Hulbert 3-2 in the second set before Hulbert closed out the match by winning the final four games in a 6-1, 6-3 decision.

"It was good for both of them," Jones said.

Brent Darden, Lin Hall, Chris Hardy, Dustin Grant and Brian Sugg each claimed a straight-set win in singles. Neither Hall nor Sugg lost a game in their respective matches.

Greene Central dropped just two games in doubles play.

"In doubles we set them up too much at the net," Jones said. "Hulbert is tall and lanky, and puts the ball away good.

"It was a good learning experience, to say the least."

Spring Creek suffered its first loss in seven matches and fell to 5-1 in the conference. The Gators entertain Farmville Central next Monday afternoon.

The Rams continue play host to Ayden-Grifton next Monday.

"Spring Creek has a good team," Greene Central coach Brad Sauls said. "We just have a little bit more experience than they do. I was pleased with the way we were able to control points with our groundstrokes and finish points off at the net."

Greene Central surrendered its first point of the season Wednesday afternoon in an 8-1 victory against independent schools powerhouse Greenfield.

Thursday's match

Greene Central 9, Spring Creek 0

Singles -- No. 1 Andrew Hulbert (GC) d. Cliff Wilson 6-1, 6-3; No. 2 Brent Darden (GC) d. Grey Wilson 6-0, 6-1; No. 3 Lin Hall (GC) d. Will Daniel 6-1, 6-0; No. 4 Chris Hardy (GC) d. Daniel Watson 6-1, 6-0; No. 5 Dustin Grant (GC) d. Justin Smith 6-0, 6-1; No. 6 Brian Sugg (GC) d. Jonathan Sutton 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles -- No. 1 Hulbert-Darden (GC) d. C. Wilson-G. Wilson 8-0; No. 2 Hall-Hardy (GC) d. Daniel-Smith 8-2; No. 3 Grant-Sugg (GC) d. Brandon Strickland-Frederick Ellis 8-0.

Wednesday's match

Greene Central 8, Greenfield School 1

Singles -- No. 1 Andrew Hulbert (GC) d. Throne Driver 6-0, 6-1; No. 2 Brent Darden (GC) d. Wes Johnson 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Lin Hall (GC) d. Will Cobb 6-2, 7-5; No. 4 Chris Hardy (GC) d. William Stakes 6-0, 6-2; No. 5 Dustin Grant (GC) d. Gary Sanders 6-1, 6-2; No. 6 Stephen Bennett (GA) d. Brian Sugg 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

Doubles -- No. 1 Hulbert-Darden (GC) d. Driver-Johnson 8-1; No. 2 Hall-Hardy (GC) d. Cobb-Stakes 8-2; No. 3 Grant-Sugg (GC) d. Sanders-Bennett 8-4.