No. 3-ranked Warriors dispatch Pirates in 3A dual-team play

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 16, 2013 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

A little rain didn't disrupt Eastern Wayne's business-like attitude on Tuesday afternoon.

Swansboro couldn't pull off the ambush, either.

The unbeaten and No. 3-ranked Warriors handed the Pirates a season-ending, 6-0 defeat in opening-round action of the 2013 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A dual-team women's tennis playoffs.

Eastern Wayne (16-0 overall) entertains No. 1-ranked Cardinal Gibbons next Tuesday. First serve is 4 p.m.

"Our team played well against a scrappy and consistent Swansboro team," Warriors head coach Craig Hassell said.

Unexpected rain forced the teams to travel to Snow Hill and complete the match on the Greene Central High School courts. Hassell applauded the efforts of third-seeded McKenna Dove and fifth-seeded Debbie Mitchell for their steady play, which helped Eastern Wayne collect its 19th postseason win in program history.

Dove turned back Caroline Provost 6-3, 6-1. Mitchell upended Jayden Davis 6-1, 7-6 (4).

"McKenna and Debbie were able to clinch the match for us with big wins," Hassell said. "Our theme all year has been an emphasis on a strong performance in singles to take pressure off in doubles, and today re-emphasized that point of hard work and dedication to team success."

Top-seeded Faith Sutton rolled over the Pirates' Charlotte Raley 6-0, 6-1. Savannah Sutton dispatched Nhi Pham 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Cameron Dove handed Kristen Stophel a 6-0, 6-2 loss at the No. 4 spot.

Sixth-seeded Brennan Dove posted a straight-set shutout of Kelly Taylor.

Eastern Wayne's tandems of F. Sutton-S. Sutton and M. Dove-C. Dove return to action Friday in the NCHSAA east regionals at Barton College in Wilson. First-round play begins at 2 p.m. The top four tandems advance to the state tournament in Burlington.