Rams are 2-A east champs

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 6, 2009 1:49 PM

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SNOW HILL -- Goal accomplished.

Greene Central claimed its 10th eastern regional dual-team, women's tennis championship with a 9-0 rout of Carrboro in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs Thursday afternoon.

The No. 2-ranked Rams (22-6 overall) will face defending state champion Salisbury (22-0) in the title match Saturday. First serve is noon on the Burlington Tennis Center courts.

"Our goal from day one has been to get to Burlington for the state finals, and this team has worked very hard to achieve that goal," said Greene Central head coach Donald Clark. "We have improved a lot since the beginning of the season. These girls have worked hard and played a demanding schedule to get where they are at (right now)."

Greene Central defeated state-ranked East Duplin and Topsail in the postseason, and controlled second-set play against Carrboro, which was in the "others receiving votes" category.

Lauren Carraway, Elizabeth McLawhorn, Samantha Taylor, Jessica Gray, Abby Sugg and Abbey Dail each secured a straight-set victory on the singles scene. Sugg picked up her team-leading 25th win.

"Abby came up with another steady performance for us at number five," said Clark. "She just kept finding a way to get the ball back. Abbey (Dail) turned in a fantastic performance for us today at number six singles.

"(She) has really improved throughout the year, and she is really hitting the ball with a lot of confidence."

Carraway-McLawhorn, the state runners-up in doubles, improved to 29-7 this season at No. 1 doubles. Taylor-Sugg and Dail-Brittany Colie also triumphed in doubles.

The Rams are making their first appearance in the state finals since 2007 when they beat Salisbury 5-4 for the championship.