Spring Creek exceeds expectations

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 13, 2010 1:47 PM

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Five new faces, no seniors and considerable lack of court time concerned Spring Creek head girls' tennis coach Beverly Boltinhouse heading into the season.

The Gators definitely exceeded her expectations.

Emily Daniel and the tandem of Colleen Finlay-Brittany Carmack earned berths in the N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern 1-A regionals after top-three efforts in the season-ending Carolina Conference tournament Tuesday evening.

Daniel claimed third in singles with a 6-4, 6-3 conquest of North Duplin's Flor Estrella. Finlay-Carmack fell to Ayden-Grifton's Dasha Lewis/Asia Harris-Moye 7-6 (1), 7-6 (1) in the championship match.

"I'm estactic because last year we didn't make it past the first round in conference, except for one doubles team," said Boltinhouse. "The girls have really improved. They were awesome ... playing and playing, and not giving up (today).

"Even the ones who didn't win played really, really well."

The Gators' Heather Frey prevailed in her opening-round singles match, but lost to top-seeded and eventual champion Ebone Ellison in the quarterfinals. Teammates Katlyn Casey-Jordan Cook eliminated North Duplin's Selena Quintanilla-Karen Hidalgo in their first-round doubles match, but fell to Rosewood's Marieke Parrish-Elise McSwain in the quarterfinals.

Parrish-McSwain, the top seed, qualified for the regionals with a three-set victory over teammates Janasia Haynes-Abigale Godwin in the third-place match. Parrish-McSwain lost to the Chargers' Lewis/Harris-Moye in the semifinals.

Teammates Rebekah Sass and Victoria Holzkamm each suffered a defeat in their respective opening-round singles matches. Holzkamm and Estrella battled for nearly 21/2 hours in their quarterfinal-round affair.

"I thought Marieke and Elise did a good job," said Rosewood head coach Debbie Bailey. "I'm excited for Marieke because it's her senior year and she qualified for the regionals. I was pleased with Janasia and Abigale because they haven't played doubles much (and) I thought they played well together."

Danielle McBarron emerged the lone winner for Goldsboro.

She opened tournament play with a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Rosewood's Rebekah Sass. North Duplin's Lea Taylor, who lost to Ellison in the title match, ousted McBarron 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

The Cougars' doubles of Brianna Dortch-Beth Nelson and Shannon Clyde-Mackenzie Malham each lost in the quarterfinals.

"Danielle battled all the way through the season and played some really close matches," said Goldsboro head coach Ryan Spell. "We were a little out-matched by the talent from the other schools, but that's to be expected with as young a team as we are.

"The girls never gave up (and) I couldn't be more proud of the way they played."

The regionals begin Oct. 22 in Greenville.

Spring Creek (6-2 overall) and Ayden-Grifton (9-3) return to action Tuesday in the dual-team playoffs.