LUMBERTON — A week filled with three straight doubleheaders for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ tennis team ended with a sweep on Thursday.
Head coach Neely Herndon and the Lady Raiders mustered the necessary energy to hand Lumberton High School a pair of losses. Richmond defeated the Lady Pirates 5-4 in both contests.
In their three doubleheaders this week, Richmond won five of its six total matches. The Lady Raiders split with Jack Britt High School on Tuesday and swept Hoke County High School on Wednesday.
Through their 10 matches this spring, the Lady Raiders improved their Sandhills Athletic Conference record to 7-3.
Richmond won four singles matches in the first match of the afternoon. Senior Kearston Bruce, who was joined by freshman Katie Way to go a perfect 4-0 on the afternoon, started the day with an 8-4 win over Brittney Collins in the No. 1 singles match.
Way picked up the first of her two singles wins, defeating Katie Campbell 8-6. Also earning singles wins in the front end were No. 4 junior Paris Almon and No. 5 freshman Neely Turner. Almon handed Beth McDonald an 8-2 loss, while Turner held off Gracie Britt 8-4.
Lumberton’s two singles wins came from No. 3 Jessica Sessoms (8-6 over Kaylee Parker) and No. 6 Nellie Jackson (8-6 against Kirsten McDonald).
Needing just one doubles win to take the first match, the No. 1 pairing of Bruce and Way sealed the deal. The duo of Lady Raiders took down Collins and Sessoms 8-1.
No. 2 Parker and Turner came up short 5-8 against Beth McDonald and Campbell, and the No. 3 duo of Almon and senior Natalie Pattan lost 5-8 to Stone and Paige Leggett.
In the latter half of the doubleheader, Bruce, Way and Turner all collected their second respective singles win of the afternoon.
No. 1 Bruce defeated Collins 8-6, No. 2 Way beat Campbell 8-4 and No. 5 Turner edged Britt 8-5.
Herndon switched up her doubles pairings in the second match, sending Bruce and Parker out for the No. 1 contest and Almon and Way into the No. 2 match.
Both duos would win 8-4 to secure the sweep, with Bruce and Parker defeating Collins and Sessoms and Almon and Way knocking off Beth McDonald and Jackson.
The Lady Raiders will get some much-needed rest before hosting an undefeated Scotland High School (8-0) on Tuesday for a senior night doubleheader. Singles play will begin at 4 p.m.
