WCDS prevails as two perennial girls' tennis powers square off in season opener

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 18, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Early-season matches are about taking advantage of your strengths and finding ways to improve your game in certain situations.

First-year coaches Gene Stancil and Blake Vail delivered that message to their respective teams on a hot, humid Monday afternoon at the Luke Vail Tennis Courts.

Wayne Country Day returning starter Ally Willman erased a first-set deficit, and the No. 1 doubles of Gianna Democko-Jennifer Potts kept their poise during an 8-6 victory.

The two points helped the Chargers, the two-time defending state 1-A independent school champions, to hand the Golden Falcons an 8-1 defeat in the season-opening match for both teams.

"Our girls showed a lot of positive signs," said Vail, a CBA alum who graduated as the all-time career leader in singles victories.

"There were matches that were definitely closer than the score seems. At the lower seeds, especially, a lot of those games went to deuce and we were fortunate the scores went our way."

The Chargers claimed five straight-set victories in singles.

Gianna Democko, one of five returnees among the top six starters, walked off the court first with a 6-0, 6-1 decision over Cassidy Coerver. Teammate Jennifer Potts soon followed with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout over Kassidy Pitchford.

Teammates Ally Willman, senior Margaux Pope and Langley Barnes each picked up a singles point. Willman trailed 4-1 in the opening set and rallied to defeat Johnson 6-4, 6-1.

"We fought through a lot of adversity, but we have a lot to work on," Vail said.

Returning starter Casey Belom claimed Aycock's lone singles point -- a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Eliza Eagles. Belom dictated the tempo and forced Eagles to play a baseline game for the majority of the match, which undoubtedly worked in her favor.

"She's a little backboard," Stancil said. "Where ever you hit the ball, she's going to hit it back to you."

WCDS swept the doubles.

Aycock, at times, struggled with its first serve and unforced errors. The Golden Falcons gave away too many points and the Chargers constantly capitalized on the mistakes.

It's an area Stancil plans to address.

"We talked after the match about giving away too many points that we shouldn't have ... hitting balls into the net or out (of play). We will work on that (and) only time will make us better," Stancil said.

"Wayne Country Day is probably the best team we will play this year. It gave us a lot of practice against a good team which will help the girls improve their game."