Matt Harrelson
RAEFORD -- After a nearly two-week hiatus due to Hurricane Florence, the Lady Raider tennis team came back to the court the same way they left it -- with a victory.
Richmond was able to blank Hoke County High School 9-0 for the second time this season Tuesday afternoon in the first match of what will be a very busy week.
In singles action, No. 1 player Jayana Nicholson tied for the closest match of the day, defeating her opponent 8-3, along with No. 6 Morgan Hooks, who won by the same score, respectively. No. 2 competitor Greyson Way was able to easily dispatch of her Hoke County counterpart 8-0, as did No. 4 player Chloe Wiggins.
Rounding out the singles matches were No. 3 Emily Parsons and No. 5 Taylor Parrish winning their respective matches 8-1 each.
When asked if the long layoff had affected his squad, head coach Mike Way said, "It didn't seem to. We have been back at practice for almost a week now, and all the schools are in the same situation. We handled the layoff pretty well, though."
The doubles matches ended similarly with No. 1 team Nicholson and Wiggins winning handily 8-1, with Greyson Way and Parsons defeating the Lady Bucks 8-1 also. Finishing up doubles action was the team of Parrish and Emily Buie, winning easily over their opponents 8-2 in the No. 3 match.
Tuesday's win makes five in a row for the Lady Raiders with their only Sandhills Athletic Conference loss coming at the hands of perennial conference favorite Pinecrest High School, a team they'll have to face again on Saturday. But before then, Richmond will face off against Scotland High School and Lumberton High School, and Mike Way thinks his team will be able to navigate this part of the schedule "pretty well."
"The match being quick today should help for the rest of the week," Way said of the next stretch of SAC games. "We also have to make up Jack Britt (High School) on Monday, so it's going to be a busy several days for us."
In the meantime, up next will be the Lady Fighting Scots, and Way explained that his team will need to play aggressively and force the action a little more to keep the winning streak alive.
The Lady Raiders and Lady Scots will face off Wednesday at Richmond, followed by another home match against Lumberton on Thursday. Both matches are set for 4 p.m. Saturday's showdown against the Lady Patriots is slated to start at 10 a.m. at RSHS.
