Home Local Sports Lady Raiders sweep Scotland on senior night

Lady Raiders sweep Scotland on senior night

Senior Lexi Medlin delivers a forehand return during her singles match on senior night. (Kyle Pillar, sports editor)

ROCKINGHAM — Senior night was a success for the Richmond Senior High School tennis team on Thursday.

Nearing the end of their regular season, the Lady Raiders picked up the sweep against 3A rival Scotland High School.

The Sandhills Athletic Conference victory came in 6-3 fashion, as Richmond used two singles wins, two doubles victories and two forfeits for its fifth team win of the season.

Prior to singles matches, head coach Jessica Covington recognized this season’s four seniors — Lexi Medlin, Jaelyn Monroe, Ella Scott and Neely Turner.

“This was a really awesome day for our team,” head coach Jessica Covington said. “We were able to celebrate our four seniors and get a team victory. It doesn’t get much better than that.

“It was great to see Lexi and Jaelyn each get their first start after working so hard all season,” she added. “Neely and Ella played great today on senior night. I know the girls enjoyed the win and being able to give our seniors a special day.”

Scotland only had five players, which afforded Richmond victories in the No. 6 singles match and the No. 3 doubles match.

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Senior Jaelyn Monroe, who made her first start of the season, returns a shot on Thursday. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)

Turner and junior Hanna Smith were responsible for the other two singles wins. In the No. 1 match, Turner defeated Maleah Locklear 8-3, while Smith earned an 8-0 win in the No. 2 match over Jacquelyn Rankin.

Scott and Medlin both missed a victory by two points, each falling 6-8. In the No. 3 match, Scott lost to Rhea Truesdell and Medlin came up short to Shay Ward.

Rounding out singles play, Monroe was defeated by Marissa Smith in a final score of 2-8.

With the help of the second forfeit, Richmond needed to win just one of its two remaining matches.

In the No. 1 pairing, Turner and Smith registered their eighth doubles victory of the campaign, rolling past Locklear and Rankin 8-1. 

Competing in the No. 2 doubles contest were Scott and freshman Colbie Covington, who edged Truesdell and Ward 9-7 in the extra set.

The Lady Raiders (5-6, 5-6 SAC) will close out the regular season at home on Monday against Lee County High School. Singles matches will begin at 4 p.m.