ROCKINGHAM — A day after suffering its closest defeat of the season, the Lady Raider tennis team bounced back on Thursday.
Returning to its home court and playing its third match in as many days, Richmond ended its two-match skid with a win over Hoke County High School.
Completing the regular-season sweep of their Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent, the Lady Raiders won handily 7-2, the same score as their win against Hoke County earlier in the season.
“We’ve been competing so well this week and this win was a great way to end our matches,” head coach Jessica Covington said. “Our first match against Hoke County really familiarized us with their strategy and our girls used that to their advantage today.
“Again, I’m so proud of how everyone played. It was really obvious how far we’ve developed over our seven matches this fall and it was good to see all the girls apply their improved skills during the match.”
Richmond controlled the match early by winning four of the six singles matches and added all three doubles wins for good measure.
Earning the two-match sweep of their respective opponents were No. 1 senior Neely Turner, No. 2 junior Hanna Smith and No. 6 freshman Colbie Covington.
In what Covington called Madi Grimes’ “best match of the season,” the No. 4 junior picked up a win.
Facing Kalea Parker, Smith recorded Richmond’s solo singles shutout of the day, an 8-0 cruising. Turner was on her heels with an 8-1 victory against Bailey Mass.
In her singles matchup, Covington made quick work of Savannah Steenrod in 8-2 fashion.
Grimes got into the singles win column for the first time this fall, handing Azari McLean an 8-2 defeat.
No. 3 sophomore Jentry Denson fell 3-8 to Alyssa Pridgen and No. 5 senior Ella Scott came up short 1-8 against Laura Pena.
Adding another tally to their impressive doubles record, Turner and Smith blanked Mass and Pridgen 8-0 in the No. 1 match. The two Lady Raiders improved to 6-1 on the year.
The No. 2 duo of Denson and Grimes outlasted Parker and Pena 9-7, while the No. 3 grouping of Scott and Covington closed the door with an 8-6 win over McLean and Steenrod.
Richmond (3-4, 3-4 SAC) will resume conference play at home next Tuesday against Union Pines High School, starting at 4 p.m.
