Matt Harrelson
ROCKINGHAM - In its second match in as many days to begin the season, the Lady Raiders tennis team fell to another non-conference opponent, this time the Lady Eagles of East Montgomery High School.
In singles action, No. 1 player Jayana Nicholson was injured during her match and was unable to continue, losing 6-1 in the process. In other singles competition, no other Lady Raiders were able to capitalize and outscore their respective opponent. No. 2 player Greyson Way was defeated by Mary Beth McCaskill in a close game 11-9, Emily Parsons fell 10-4 in her match against No. 3 Yoricel Salazar, both Taylor Parrish and Emily Buie lost 10-2 to Hannah Moore and Allison Burr in the No. 4 and 5 games, respectively. Morgan Hooks, the No. 6 player wasn't able to pull out victory over McKinley Baker, losing 10-8.
"They were very consistent," said Lady Raider head coach Mike Way about East Montgomery's players. "They just kept it in play and waited for us to make mistakes."
With Nicholson injured, Way wasn't able to pair up his No. 1 and 2 players for their doubles match, switching in Parsons to pair up with Greyson Way. The move would be moot, however, as the previous No. 2 singles match took over two hours to finish, thus keeping Way from competing in doubles.
Coach Way added that the outcome of that match wouldn't have had any bearing on the overall score, regardless if it was played.
In other doubles action, Parrish and Hooks paired up in the No. 2 match, but lost to the combination of Salazar and Moore on the Lady Eagles side 6-2. The score of the No. 3 match would mirror the previous game with the tag team of Buie and Ashley Yepez falling 6-2, as well, to East Montgomery's Burr and Peyton Holder.
Way says his team has plenty of work to do before they enter Sandhills Athletic Conference play next week.
"We have to work on getting in better position" he added. "It just does not come naturally to move and get ready for the next ball."
The Lady Raiders will need to be ready for the next ball when they travel to Purnell Swett High School in Maxton on Tuesday for their first conference match of the new season. Play is set to start at 4 p.m.
