Matt Harrelson
ROCKINGHAM - It seems the Lady Raiders tennis team is on a roll after defeating Jack Britt High School a week ago, then disposing of the Hoke County Lady Bucks on Thursday. Richmond kept the momentum going Tuesday afternoon when they matched up against another Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent, Lumberton High School, blanking them 9-0.
No. 1 player senior Jayana Nicholson defeated her counterpart Morgan Miller 8-3, continuing her improved play at the top of the lineup. Senior Greyson Way, playing in the No. 2 singles match, took down Lumberton's Anna Russ quickly at 8-1, and fellow senior Emily Parsons beat Ellen Kinlaw 8-3 in the No. 3 slot.
Senior Chloe Wiggins' and junior Emily Buie's wins were as close as Lumberton would get on the afternoon, each winning 8-4, respectively in the No. 4 and No. 6 singles matches. Wrapping up the scoring was Taylor Parrish winning handily 8-1 over Makaleigh Wynn.
Head coach Mike Way's tennis team has improved over the last few matches, which he says there's, "no substitute for some experience."
Way has also been experimenting with his lineup, moving Nicholson up the No. 1 spot and rotating players in the lower singles matches. The coach said he's just trying to figure out the best way to win as many matches as possible.
In doubles action, Richmond continued to dominate on the court, with Nicholson and Wiggins beating Miller and Russ 8-2 in the No. 1 slot. In the No. 2 game, the team of Way and Parsons took care of business at 8-0, but not to be outdone, Parrish and senior Morgan Hooks also shutout their opponents 8-0 in the No. 3 match.
"We've done pretty well against them," Way said about facing Lumberton. "Most of them (scores) have been around 6-3 or 7-2."
The Lady Raider tennis team (4-3, 4-1 SAC) will look to win its fourth overall match in a row when it travels to Seventy-First High School in Fayetteville on Thursday. First match is set to start at 4 p.m.
