ROCKINGHAM — Even play through the first six matches during Tuesday’s tennis match was determined in doubles action.
Ending a two-week hiatus from the court, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ tennis team rounded out its first round of regular season play with a win.
With longtime rival Scotland High School visiting, the Lady Raiders notched a 5-4 victory to even their record on the season.
The two teams split singles play, winning three matches apiece. Richmond won two of the three doubles contests by large margins to ice the victory.
“It was good to finally get back out on the court and play,” head coach Jessica Covington said. “There was a little rust to begin with, but the girls settled in nicely and really picked up some quality wins.
“Amy time we play our rival, we want to win,” she continued. “It was a tough battle in singles but our girls played really well in doubles. I’m proud of their effort and glad we could end the first round of conference with an even record.”
Seniors Hanna Smith, Madison Grimes and Ava Thompson were responsible for the Lady Raiders’ three singles victories.
In the No. 1 matchup, Smith made quick work against Maleah Locklear. She defeated Scotland’s top seed 8-2.
Thompson fared the same way in the No. 6 singles match, beating Kayleigh Leviner 8-2. Grimes also won handily in the No. 3 contest, cruising 8-3 over Rhea Truesdell.
No. 2 junior Jentry Denson, No. 4 sophomore Colbie Covington and No. 5 senior Kenleigh Parker all came up short in their singles matches.
Covington made a few lineup changes in doubles play, switching Denson and Covington between the top two pairings.
In the No. 1 doubles match, Smith and Covington secured Richmond’s largest win of the afternoon, an 8-1 thrashing of Locklear and Marissa Smith.
Nearly as impressive, the No. 2 duo of Denson and Grimes combined to hold off Truesdell and Lillie Rankin 8-2.
With those two matches in the bag, Parker and Thompson’s two-point loss didn’t impact Richmond’s victory.
“I decided to make a switch with our top two doubles teams and it seemed like everyone adjusted well,” Covington said. “It came down to the three doubles matches, so winning two of them with a new lineup is a good thing for us moving forward.”
Richmond (2-2, 2-2 SAC) has another home match Thursday when it hosts Southern Lee High School to begin the second round of regular season conference play. Singles matches will start at 4 p.m.
