In its final home match of the season, the Rockbridge County High School girls tennis team earned its first win this spring by defeating Shenandoah District rival Stuarts Draft on Thursday evening in Lexington.
With the victory, RC’s first win in about two years, the Wildcats improved to 1-14, both overall and in the district. When RC played at Stuarts Draft on April 6, the Cougars won 9-0, with several close matches, including two tiebreaks.
The Wildcats were coming off a 5-3 road loss to Wilson Memorial on Monday of last week. In the rematch with Draft, the Wildcats won two of three doubles matches and three of six singles matches. RC singles winners were Corinna Allen at No. 1, Claire Taylor at No. 5, and Charlotte Taylor at No. 6.
Before the match, the Wildcats honored their three seniors: Allen, Claire Taylor and Bella Fitch. RC head coach Mark Sholes said the seniors “improved a whole lot since the beginning.” Pleased that Allen and Claire won in both singles and doubles, Sholes said, “We should have senior night every night.”
At Wilson Memorial, RC’s singles were Claire Taylor at No. 5 and Charlotte Taylor at No. 6, while Diya Gandhi and Mile Baker teamed up to win at No. 3 doubles.
The Wildcats were scheduled to conclude the team portion of their season yesterday at Buffalo Gap and will wait to see the singles and doubles playoff draws. For updates, visit www. thenews-gazette.com.
RC 5, SD 4
SINGLES – Corinna Allen (RC) d. Isabelle Fitzpatrick (SD) 8-3; Zoa Burns (SD) d. Grace Maquera Ramos (RC) 8-6; Addison Colvin (SD) d. Diya Gandhi (RC) 8-1; Charisse Libunao (SD) d. Mila Baker (RC) 8-0; Claire Taylor (RC) d. Alina Liu (SD) 8-1; Charlotte Taylor (RC) d. Neva Miller (SD) 8-1.
DOUBLES – Allen and Ramos (RC) d. Fitzpatrick and Burns (SD) 8-6; Colvin and Libunao (SD) d. Gandhi and Baker (RC) 8-2; Claire and Charlotte Taylor (RC) d. Liu and Jessica Varga (SD) 8-4.
WM 5, RC 3
SINGLES – Brynlee Roach (WM) d. Allen (RC) 8-0; Alison Troxell (WM) d. Gandhi (RC) 8-2; Caroline Solomon (WM) d. Ramos (RC) 8-1; Baker (RC) led Sydney Troxell (WM) 5-2 (suspended due to rain); Claire Taylor (RC) d. Amber Brunk (WM) 8-0; Charlotte Taylor (RC) d. Elyanah Marshall (WM) 8-1.
DOUBLES – Roach and A. Troxell (WM) d. Allen and Claire Taylor (RC) 8-0; Solomon and S. Troxell (WM) d. Ramos and Charlotte Taylor (RC) 8-3; Gandhi and Baker (RC) d. Brunk and Marshall (WM) 8-3.
RC SENIOR Claire Taylor extends for a forehand shot during her 8-1 win over her Stuarts Draft opponent at No. 5 singles. (Jonathan Schwab photo)
WILDCAT SENIOR Corinna Allen hits a backhand shot in her 8-3 win at No. 1 singles. (Jonathan Schwab photo)
