ROCKINGHAM — For the first time this season, the Lady Raider tennis team walked off the court as victors in back-to-back matches.
In what has been an uphill battle for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ tennis team this fall, which is comprised of nine rookie players and a new head coach, the Lady Raiders are starting to find their footing.
Richmond played host to Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Lumberton High School Wednesday and earned an impressive 7-2 win. Also for the first time this season, the Lady Raiders swept their competition in singles matches, going a perfect 6-0 against the Lady Pirates.
Picking up its second win in as many days, Richmond entered the match following a 5-4 win over Hoke County High School on Tuesday.
No. 1 junior Kearston Bruce started things off with an 8-4 win over Brittney Collins, making it her second singles match win of the season. No. 2 sophomore O’cean Bennett followed her with an 8-0 blanking of Paige Leggett, in what was her first singles victory of the campaign.
In the middle matches, No. 3 junior Kaylee Parker took care of Elizabeth McDonald 8-2, while No. 4 sophomore Paris Almon defeated Gracie Britt. It was each Lady Raider’s second singles win.
Rounding things out were No. 5 sophomore Elizabeth Henry ad No. 6 sophomore Ellie Buck. Henry rolled past Grace Stone 8-1, and Buck made quick work against Dean Whitley, beating her opponent 8-3. With their respective wins over Stone and Whitley, Henry and Buck won their team-leading third singles contest of the year.
Locking up the overall match win in singles play alone, the Lady Raiders got some help in the No. 1 doubles match when Lumberton had to forfeit.
Richmond’s No. 2 doubles pairing of Almon and junior Kacie Medina would drop their match to McDonald and Britt, 5-8. Head coach Neely Herdon inserted junior Natalie Pattan and freshman Maren Carter into the lineup for the No. 3 doubles match, but the tandem fell to Stone and Nellie Jackson 0-8.
Now 3-7 overall and 3-6 against SAC opponents, the Lady Raiders will look to extend their streak and cap a perfect week when they travel to Lumberton (0-8, 0-7 SAC) on Thursday. Singles matches are set for a 4 p.m. start.
