Chapel Hill eliminates C.B. Aycock from playoffs

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 5, 2010 1:47 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Chapel Hill had the stronger arsenal.

A perennial powerhouse on the dual-team scene, the Tigers strolled into Charles B. Aycock and posted a 6-0, opening-round victory in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs on an overcast, humid Tuesday afternoon.

"Down the line, they all had weapons ... big forehands, big serves," said fourth-year Golden Falcons head coach Kevin Coghill. "But, I think in a few areas, we battled well. I really think some of the scores won't show it.

"We did not make it easy on them, which I was proud to see. A few years ago, we would have gotten blown out of the water."

Chapel Hill (12-6 overall) claimed straight-set triumphs in five of six singles matches. Top-seeded Mason Rouge dealt Golden Falcon senior Blake Vail a 6-4, 6-2 defeat. It was Vail's first-ever, dual-team playoff loss and just the sixth singles loss of his career.

Aycock senior Addison Westbrook took junior Jarod Styres to three sets before falling 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-10. Third-seeded Will Hoff, in his dual-team playoff debut, endured a 6-4, 6-1 setback against the Tigers' Alex Dyer.

The Golden Falcons' Dylan Quinn, Brad Wilson and Kareem Alawar each dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision to their respective opponents.

The doubles matches were not contested.

"Today showed that we can compete, but we're still a long ways away," said Coghill, whose team concluded the season 15-1. "We've had a heckuva year and I'm just really proud of them."

Vail, Westbrook and Quinn helped lead Aycock to 66 dual-team victories, three Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference championships and two eastern championship appearances in 2008 and 2009 during their career.

The trio, along with Hoff, return to action Friday in the NCHSAA 3-A eastern regional individual tournament at Barton College in Wilson. Play begins at 2 p.m.