ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School boys tennis team started its new season against one of the toughest teams in the Sandhills Athletic Conference Tuesday.
Originally set to begin their new campaign last week against Southern Lee High School, the Raiders had to wait a few extra days after the Cavaliers didn’t field a team this spring.
Visiting the courts at Richmond was Pinecrest High School, which handed the Raiders a 9-0 loss.
“We have a very young team this year after losing several of our starters from last year to graduation,” head coach Jessica Covington said. “With not as much experience, we know it’s going to be a season of growth and we do have some talented players who are trying their best.
“Facing Pinecrest is always challenging because they are a very good team,” she continued. “This first match allowed us to see where we are and what things we need to work on. The guys have shown a lot of improvement already and we’ll only get better.”
Taking up the vacant No. 1 singles seed, junior Jordan Jacobs fell to Kenan VonScoyoc 0-6, 0-6. No. 2 junior Matthew Leggett dropped his singles contest to Jack Hage 4-6, 0-6.
No. 3 senior Brent Humann and No. 5 junior Will Whitley both lost their respective matches 1-6, 1-6 to Corey Ingram and Preston House.
No. 4 junior Gavin Applewhite put up points in both games against Jake Maybouer, but came up short 3-6, 3-6. Rounding out Richmond’s singles play, freshman Ben Lutz lost 0-6, 0-6 to Mason Crom.
In doubles action, the No. 1 pairing of Jacobs and Leggett lost 6-8.
In the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches, Humann and Whitley, as well as Applewhite and Lutz, lost by scores of 4-8.
Richmond (0-1, 0-1 SAC) will host Hoke County High School for another home match Thursday. Singles matches will begin at 4 p.m.
