GIRLS' TENNIS: WCDS dominates Oakwood

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 26, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Four returning starters.

Three all-state performers.

Two new faces.

And to no one's surprise, Wayne Country Day -- a school where tradition never graduates -- continues to roll along.

The Chargers posted shutouts in eight of nine contested matches and handed The Oakwood School a 9-0 loss on the Wayne Community College tennis courts Thursday afternoon. WCDS remained unbeaten in four outings and has surrendered just three total points this season.

It was Oakwood's season opener.

"I thought they showed some mental toughness," second-year WCDS head coach Blake Vail said. "To lose only one game, I thought that was pretty solid. We didn't make many unforced errors, we won the right way and I thought that was a good positive for sure."

Fourth-seeded Langley Barnes claimed the first singles point for the Chargers.

Top-seeded Jennifer Potts, a two-time all-state selection, secured the next point. She was quickly followed off the courts by first-year starters Nancy Chen (No. 5 seed) and Hannah Fessler (No. 6).

Ally Willman, one of three seniors on the team, triumphed at No. 2 singles. Teammate Eliza Eagles cruised at No. 4 singles. Willman and Eagles are returning all-state recipients.

Vail said the biggest surprises have been Barnes and Eagles.

"Langley, I've been extremely impressed with," Vail said. "Eliza is hitting the ball really good. Our 4, 5 and 6 (singles) will be stronger at the end of this year than our 4, 5 and 6 were at the end of last year. All of those girls have really stepped up."

Potts-Eagles and Willman-L. Barnes each posted an 8-0 victory in doubles. The third-seeded, senior tandem of Martie Rose-Aimee Barnes prevailed 8-1.

Wayne Country Day beat its 61st opponent in 65 tries since 2013 when it claimed the first of its three consecutive N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A state dual-team championships.

The Chargers are 71-7 overall since 2012.

Vail cautions his team can't take any opponent lightly and has to avoid complacency -- in practice and on game day. WCDS returns to action Aug. 30 against perennial 2-A powerhouse Parrott Academy, which has reached the state semifinals each of the past three seasons.

"We're trying 'the get better every day approach,'" Vail said. "I think our biggest opponent will be ourselves. We need to work hard every day and not just go through the motions. I'm going to try to keep practice fresh and interesting, try not to do the same drills over and over.

"I want to keep it competitive."

And keep a strong tradition alive.