NEA tennis edged twice
Published 5:57 pm Friday, October 9, 2020
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Northeast Academy’s tennis team has been extremely competitive during the 2020 season, but has suffered multiple razor-close losses.
Two more of those setbacks occurred this week as the Eagles dropped matches to Lawrence Academy and Ridgecroft School, both by 5-4 margins.
Top-seeded Jessie Martin continued her outstanding senior season by winning both of her matches this week. She slugged her way past Lawrence’ Emma Cobb (8-4 in a single pro match) and then battled rising star Belle Turner of Ridgecroft, winning by scores of 6-1, 1-6, 10-1.
Jesse Martin, Northeast Academy’s top-seeded tennis player, reaches out to make a forehand return during her match on Wednesday vs. Belle Turner of Ridgecroft School. A.A. Imaging / Andre Alfred
Against Lawrence, Northeast seized a 3-0 lead in singles play as #2 Emalee Jones (6-2, 6-1 over Isabella Spruill) and #3 Lizzie Smith (a default victory vs. Perris Clayton) won their individual matches along with Martin’s victory.
Lawrence bounced back, winning the other three singles matches as #4 Annie Hayes Trowell defeated Kiersten Flythe (6-0, 6-0); #5 Lucy Spruill beat Natalie Luckadoo (6-0, 6-0) and #6 Addie Phelps was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Harley Pierce.
Martin and Smith paired up to post an 8-4 win over Cobb/Spruill in the #1 doubles match.
Lawrence rallied for wins in the #2 and #3 doubles matches as Clayton/Trowell defeated Jones/Flythe, 8-3, while Spruill/Phelps blanked Luckadoo/Pierce, 8-0.
In the match against Ridgecroft, Northeast claimed two wins in singles action and two more in doubles play.
Other than Martin’s win v. Turner, Smith was victorious over Camille Pierce in a tightly contested match (4-6, 7-6, 10-5).
Ridgecroft collected four individual wins as #2 Claire Place defeated Jones (7-5, 2-6, 10-8); #4 Elizabeth Brown was a 6-0, 6-2 winner vs. Flythe; #5 Sydney Jones was a 6-0, 6-2 victor over Luckadoo; and #6 Chloe Rose emerged as a 6-1, 6-1 winner against H. Pierce.
The doubles partners of #1 Martin/Smith and #2 Jones/Flythe each hammered out identical 8-3 wins over Turner/Place and Pierce/Brown.
Ridgecroft won at #3 doubles as Sydney Jones and Carley Kinnington blanked Luckadoo/Pierce, 8-0.
Both clubs will now move into next week’s TIC Tennis Tournament.
About Cal Bryant
Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.
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