Tennis -- Falcons win, but Batts loses first league match

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 27, 2004 1:58 PM

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ATLANTIC BEACH -- Sophomore Raychel Batts endured her first-ever loss in Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference singles play Thursday afternoon, but the Golden Falcons never faltered against West Carteret.

Aycock claimed five singles wins and handed the Patriots a 5-1 loss at the Island Beach and Racquet Club. The Golden Falcons remained unbeaten in four ECC outings and extended their 26-year conference match win streak to 271.

Batts, the No. 1 seed, dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision to Corrine Langston.

"Corrine played an incredible match," veteran Aycock coach Luke Vail said. "Raychel played hard, but was having to play from behind the whole match ... a difficult assignment against a really good player.

"Raychel plays with a lot of passion and desire so she'll bounce back the next time."

Second-seeded Leslie Sasser and fourth-seeded Patricia Owen each shut out their respective opponent.

"Leslie played exceptional tennis," Vail said. "She came out and established control of the match early with her powerful groundstrokes. Patricia had a dominating performance from the baseline and at the net."

Carlyn Claiborne and Nicole Taylor each prevailed in straight sets at Nos. 3 and 6. Teammate Laine Purcell rallied for a 6-1, 6-7 (8), 7-4 decision against Hillary Vallance at No. 5.

"Laine did an outstanding job of seizing control of the momentum early in the third-set tiebreaker," Vail said. "Nicole played very intelligent tennis, moving her opponent all over the court. Carlyn did a really nice job of keeping her opponent on the run from side to side."

The doubles were not contested.

C.B. Aycock (4-1, 4-0 ECC) travels to South Central next Tuesday afternoon.

C.B. Aycock 5, West Carteret 1

Singles -- No. 1 Corrine Langston (WC) d. Raychel Batts 6-4, 6-2; No. 2 Leslie Sasser (CBA) d. Courtney Whisler 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Carlyn Claiborne (CBA) d. Maren Boelling 6-1, 6-3; No. 4 Patricia Owen (CBA) d. Katy Bell 6-0, 6-0; No. 5 Laine Purcell (CBA) d. Hillary Vallance 6-1, 6-7 (8), 7-4; No. 6 Nicole Taylor (CBA) d. Kelly Register 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles -- Not contested.