Gators bounce Rebels in tennis

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on October 7, 2010 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Just 24 hours removed from a disappointing loss, Spring Creek needed every point to turn back rival North Duplin in their Carolina 1-A Conference girls' tennis battle Wednesday afternoon.

The Gators emerged victorious in two of three doubles matches, and nipped the Rebels 5-4 at the John Neal Walker Tennis Center on the Mount Olive College campus. The nail-biting decision assured Spring Creek of the No. 2 seed for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A dual-team playoffs, which begin Oct. 19.

A day earlier, Ayden-Grifton earned its second straight Carolina Conference regular-season championship with a win over Spring Creek.

Second-seeded Heather Frey, fourth-seeded Jordan Cook and fifth-seeded Anna Haggerty each recorded a singles point for the Gators. Teammates Frey-Haggerty and Colleen Finlay-Cook each logged an 8-6 triumph at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, respectively, which pushed the Gators into the playoffs.

Top-seeded Lee Taylor outlasted Spring Creek's Emily Daniel 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-6 in singles play. North Duplin teammates Flora Estrella (No. 3 seed) and sixth-seeded Blaner Hildago each picked up a straight-set decision.

Taylor-Nikki Goodman claimed the Rebels' lone doubles point at No. 1.

Spring Creek (6-2 overall, 6-2 CC) and North Duplin return to action Tuesday in the season-ending, Carolina Conference individual tournament at Herman Park. Goldsboro, Ayden-Grifton and Rosewood will also participate in the day-long event, which determines singles and doubles qualifiers for the eastern regionals.