LAURINBURG — There was no showing of rust for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ tennis team on Tuesday.
The weather — for the first time in two weeks — cooperated long enough for the Lady Raiders to notch their second victory of the season.
Following a series of weather-related postponements, and a lightning delay to start action on Tuesday, Richmond cruised past Scotland High School 7-2.
The Lady Raiders took four singles matches and iced the victory with all three doubles wins.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to play a competitive match against another team,” head coach Jessica Covington said.
“In that period of time, the girls really worked hard in practice and it showed with how they performed today.”
Richmond’s top two singles players each secured an 8-0 shutout victory. No. 1 senior Neely Turner defeated Shay Ward, while No. 2 junior Hanna Smith clinched her team-leading third singles win of the season over Arabia Nimetullah.
Also picking up sizable wins in singles play were No. 4 sophomore Jentry Denson and No. 6 freshman Colbie Covington. Denson held off Jacquelyn Rankin 8-3, with Covington breezing past Marissa Smith 8-1.
No. 3 junior Madi Grimes and No. 5 senior Ella Scott each fell in their respective singles competition. Grimes lost 3-8 to Maleah Locklear and Scott came up short 6-8 against Rhea Truesdell.
Remaining perfect in doubles play, Turner and Smith combined for another shutout in the No. 1 pairing. The win marked their fourth doubles victory in four matches this year.
Not allowing a game to go in Scotland’s favor, the two Lady Raiders defeated Ward and Nimetullah 8-0.
Grimes and Denson teamed up to win the No. 2 doubles contest, an 8-6 decision over Locklear and Rankin.
Closing the sweep was the No. 3 duo of Scott and Covington, who eased past Truesdell and Carmen Taylor 8-2.
“It’s really important that we set the tone as a team during singles play,” Covington explained. “When we do that and are able to get ahead like we did today, it gives the girls confidence moving forward.
“I’m so pleased with how our doubles teams have played this season. Neely and Hanna have done awesome in their first season playing together and the other girls have added some quality wins.”
Richmond (2-2, 2-2 SAC) will begin the second round of conference play on Thursday at Southern Lee High School. Singles, followed by doubles, will start at 4 p.m.
