Creech's singles point clinches match for C.B. Aycock

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 16, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Haley Creech started out on cruise control.

Then her gears got stuck.

The Charles B. Aycock junior, in her first-ever singles match, posted a 6-0 shutout in the opening set against Eastern Wayne's Bella Bowen. But when Creech's mom finally arrived to see her daughter play, Creech's demeaner changed on the court.

Bowen noticed the nervousness and took Creech to a second-set tiebreaker.

"She gets a little nervous when her family comes out," first-year CBA head coach Gene Stancil said. "I don't know if that threw her off a little bit. She got it back together, knew what she had to do."

Creech won the tiebreaker 7-6 (10) and earned the match-clinching point in the Golden Falcons' 7-2 triumph over county archrival Eastern Wayne on Tuesday afternoon. It was Aycock's 27th victory in its last 30 outings against Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference opposition.

"She earned that (singles) spot in practice yesterday (Monday)," Stancil said. "She's improved her game. It's going to be interesting to see if she can stay there."

Aycock won five singles points.

Sabrina Johnson rallied from 2-1 and 4-3 deficits in the opening set against Eastern Wayne junior Brennan Dove at No. 2 singles. Johnson won the final nine games and match 6-4, 6-0.

Casie Belom posted a 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. Teammates Kassidy Pitchford and Meredith Jones each claimed a straight-set decision at Nos. 4 and 5 singles, respectively.

Eastern Wayne junior Elizabeth Sutton collected her team's lone singles point. Sutton played a patient, tactical match at No. 1 singles and defeated Cassidy Coerver 6-0, 6-1.

Coerver couldn't overcome several unforced errors.

"Elizabeth has been playing pretty strong all year," EW head coach Craig Hassell said. "She's keeping the ball in play and I think she's going to have a good year if she keeps it up."

Sutton-Dove emerged victorious, 8-5, over Coerver-Belom at No. 1 doubles. Aycock's tandems of Johnson-Pitchford and Jones-Grayson Lane triumphed at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, respectively.

"I knew Aycock was going to be pretty tough down the line," Hassell said. "Their five and six -- particularly -- are really strong. Our girls battled, but they were the better team from top to bottom.

"Aycock played better, played smart and they've got some good athletes. That helps."

The Golden Falcons (8-4 overall, 5-1 ECC) visit Wilson Hunt today. The Warriors (3-4, 3-3 ECC) start second-half conference action Thursday against South Central.