Warriors successfully defend crown

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 1, 2008 1:36 PM

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PIKEVILLE — Eastern Wayne successfully defended its Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference women’s tennis championship Tuesday evening.

But the outcome surprised one person.

Warriors head coach Nancy Dawson didn’t expect a 9-0 shutout over county archrival Charles B. Aycock.

“The score, when you play a 41⁄2-hour match, was not absolutely indicative of how that match went,” said Dawson. “It was nip and tuck every point. It came down to who made mistakes at what point and could you capitalize on it.”

Eastern Wayne (12-1 overall, 9-0 ECC) seized the league’s No. 1 seed for the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs, which begin Oct. 14. The Golden Falcons (8-6, 7-2) earned the No. 2 seed for the second consecutive season.

“I think both teams played great,” said Dawson. “I think that Aycock is going to represent us well in the dual-team (playoffs) and that’s what we’re after as a conference. They showed maturity (today) beyond what was on paper.”

The Warriors’ experience, however, proved the difference.

Top-seeded Danielle Daniel, a third-year starter, overcame a mistake-filled first set to defeat Ashley Howell 4-6, 6-3, 12-10. The junior struggled with her first serve and committed too many unforced errors as Howell stayed in control during the opening set.

Howell, meanwhile, contended with an inconsistent first serve that surfaced more in the second set and super tiebreaker. Daniel constantly pounced on Howell’s slow second serve, hitting crisp, low groundstroke winners down the line.

Daniel fended off three match points in the tiebreaker to remain unbeaten against ECC opposition this season.

“Ashley played really well,” said Aycock head coach Brad Matthews. “She was getting to everything that Danielle was hitting. She was moving well and getting to the ball. Footwork has been an improvement in her game.

“She stayed focused, but Danielle started hitting some good shots to put her away.”

Eastern Wayne collected singles points from Lindsey Frederick, Mollie Musgrave, Elizabeth Borden, Kelsi Yates and Miller Delbridge. Yates’ straight-set victory sealed the outcome with the doubles matches yet to be played.

“I think we were more competitive in singles than we were the last time (against Eastern Wayne) and that was a good sign,” said Matthews. “I think we’re playing smarter, placing the ball better and figuring out our opponent’s weaknesses.”

The Warriors, however, dominated the doubles. The Golden Falcons managed to win just three games in three contested matches. Matthews lamented his team hit too many floaters at the net, which set up Eastern Wayne for easy smashes.

“The doubles ... those girls played like they did against Rocky Mount (last year),” said Dawson. “It was no holes barred and they went at it. I was very pleased with how they awoke and played like they did last year.

“(Winning the ECC) is absolutely awesome.”

Eastern Wayne 9

C.B. Aycock 0

Singles: No. 1 Danielle Daniel (EW) d. Ashley Howell 4-6, 6-3, 12-10; No. 2 Lindsey Frederick (EW) d. Kristen Fischer 6-1, 6-2; No. 3 Mollie Musgrave (EW) d. Hollie Baker 6-4, 6-2; No. 4 Elizabeth Borden (EW) d. Abbey Strickland 6-1, 6-1; No. 5 Kelsi Yates (EW) d. Nicole Kessler 6-4, 6-2; No. 6 Miller Delbridge (EW) d. Harlie Howard 6-4, 7-5.

Doubles: No. 1 Frederick-Musgrave (EW) d. Fischer-Baker 8-1; No. 2 Daniel-Yates (EW) d. Howell-Strickland 8-2; No. 3 Borden-Emily Northington (EW) d. Kessler-Alicia Sodoma 8-0.

Records: Eastern Wayne 12-1, 9-0 Eastern Carolina 3-A; C.B. Aycock 8-6, 7-2 ECC.