Southern Wayne’s Cara King returns a shot during her No. 6 singles match against South johnston’s Mackenzie Murphy Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne sophomore Kylie Hyde works against South Johnston’s Kira Kelly during their No. 5 singles match Tuesday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne senior Juliana Leon returns a backhand shot to South Johnston’s Kaylee Cox at No. 4 singles. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne senior Amy Lemus stretches to return a backhand shot to South Johnston’s Rachel Brewer at No. 3 singles. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne senior Allya Segura tracks down a short ball hit by South Johnston’s Alyssa Newton at No. 2 singles. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne sophomore Charity Van Dyke returns a shot against South Johnston’s Olivia Myers during their match at No. 1 singles Tuesday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Same outcome, but different result. That’s how Southern Wayne head girls’ tennis coach David Van Dyke viewed a competitive, 9-0 loss to Quad County 3A foe South Johnston Tuesday afternoon.
During the three-hour affair, the Saints won 30 games in singles and doubles combined compared to just 15 on Monday.
“The girls battled so much harder today than yesterday … played one of their best matches of the season,” Van Dyke said. “Juliana Leon played today and it kind of set the tone. [She’s] played well when she’s been able to get on the court.
“Charity [Van Dyke] and Amy [Lemus] have been playing well all year. They are learning match to match. [Allya] Segura has really turned the corner and is playing really well right now.”
One of three seniors in the starting lineup, Lemus earned player-of-the-match accolades. She dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision to Rachel Brewer at No. 3 singles. The two players engaged in several long rallies that, at times, needed extra points to determine the game.
Van Dyke fell 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
A multi-sport athlete, Segura endured a 6-3, 6-0 loss at No. 2.
Leon endured a 6-2, 6-1 defeat at No. 4.
“The top four played really hard in singles and doubles,” coach Van Dyke said.
Van Dyke’s daughter and Segura lost 8-5 at No. 1 doubles.
South Johnston’s tandem of Rachel Brewer-Kaylee Cox needed a tiebreaker to defeat Lemus-Leon, 9-8 (2) at No. 2.
The Trojans posted straight-set shutouts at Nos. 5 and 6 singles, and lost just one game at No. 3 doubles.
“Our five and six seeds are also getting some good experience this year that will help them in the future,” Van Dyke said of sophomore Kylie Hyde and junior Cara King. “Considering that we have only eight players, all of the girls are getting ranked experience.”
Southern Wayne (2-9 overall, 2-9 QCC) is the guest of Smithfield-Selma on Wednesday.
South Johnston 9, Southern Wayne 0
Singles: No. 1 — Olivia Myers (SJ) d. Charity Van Dyke (SW), 6-2, 6-2; No. 2 — Alyssa Newton (SJ) d. Allya Segura (SW), 6-3, 6-0; No. 3 — Rachel Brewer (SJ) d. Amy Lemus (SW), 6-4, 6-2; No. 4 — Kaylee Cox (SJ) d. Juliana Leon (SW), 6-2, 6-1; No. 5 — Kira Kelly (SJ) d. Kylie Hyde (SW), 6-0, 6-0; No. 6 — Mackenzie Murphy (SJ) d. Cara King (SW), 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: No. 1 — Myers-Newton (SJ) d. Van Dyke-Segura (SW), 8-5; No. 2 — Brewer-Cox (SJ) d. Lemus-Leon (SW), 9-8 (2); No. 3 — Kelly-Murphy (SJ) d. Hyde-Ameya Randolph (SW), 8-1.
