BISCOE — Heading into Thursday’s season-opening match, Richmond Senior High School head tennis coach Neely Herndon knew her young team would need to find its footing before finding success.
With nine new players to the sport on the team, the Lady Raiders traveled to Biscoe Park to face off against non-conference Montgomery Central High School.
A new program this year formed between former East and West Montgomery high schools, the Lady Timberwolves combined players from experienced squads and defeated Richmond 9-0.
Last season, the East Montgomery Lady Eagles finished tied for first place in the 2A Rocky River Conference standings, and had five returners competing in Thursday’s match. Richmond and Montgomery Central were supposed to open their season on Monday, but rained cancelled the match.
In singles play, Richmond’s No. 1 junior Kearston Bruce made her debut against Mary Beth McCaskill, one of the five East Montgomery returners, but fell by sets scores of 0-6, 0-6. Following her in the No. 2 singles match was sophomore O’Cean Bennett, who lost in straight sets to Hannah Moore (0-6, 0-6).
Richmond’s No. 3 junior Kaylee Parker and No. 4 sophomore Elizabeth Henry also dropped their first matches of the season in straight sets. Parker fell to Yaricel Salazar 0-6, 0-6, while Henry lost to Allisia Burr by the same score.
The only Lady Raider who managed to win any games on Thursday was sophomore Paris Almon in the No. 5 singles match. Battling Ellie Almond, Almon lost the first set 0-6 before ending the day by earning two game wins but coming up short 2-6.
To close out singles play in the No. 6 match, sophomore Ellie Buck saw her efforts against McKinley Baker result in a 0-6, 0-6 defeat.
Richmond had a little more success in doubles play, seeing Bruce and Bennett earn a game win against McCaskill and Moore. But the No. 1 Lady Timberwolves duo would roll to a 7-1 victory.
Parker and Buck teamed up in the No. 2 doubles pairing and kept the score close before ultimately falling to Salazar and Burr 3-6. Almon and sophomore Kacie Medina ended the match with a 0-3 loss to Almond and Baker. The match was cut short because of weather.
“To be their first time playing, I think they did really well,” Herndon commented. “We have a lot to work on, but I know they will continue to improve.”
The Lady Raiders (0-1) will look to enter the win column on Tuesday when they open Sandhills Athletic Conference play against Purnell Swett High School. A home match, play is set to begin at 4 p.m.
