Coming off of a double header sweep of Martinsville last Friday, the Alleghany Mountaineers (6-2) boys varsity tennis team dropped their second match of the season after falling 5-4 at home (Clifton Middle School) to the Riverheads Gladiators (3-1).
Back on March 25th, the Mounties were handed their first loss of the season by the Gladiators. Mounties head coach, Seth Davis, said the team was exposed in their first meeting with the Gladiators following a shutout 9-0 loss.
On Wednesday, it seemed as if the Gladiators were heading towards another shutout victory. The Gladiators took a four set lead early before the Mounties made a strong comeback to get within one set before the Gladiators hung on in their second of three doubles sets.
Already ahead 4-0 in the match, the Mounties snapped a 13 straight set loss to the Gladiators following Baron Leitch’s 8-6 singles victory. Following Leitch’s victory, the Mounties found new life in the match.
After a tough set, Coree Nicely, kept the Mounties in the match following his 9-8 tiebreaking victory. Nicely, on the season is 7-1 in singles competition.
Down 4-2 in the match, it came down to doubles.
Following a cruising 8-3 doubles victory by Leitch/Maddox Crance, the Mounties were within one at 4-3.
Despite their strong effort, McKinley Goodbar and Eli Entsminger, fell short in their doubles match 8-5.
The Mounties ended the match with the Gladiators coming from behind in the Nicely/Nathan Clark doubles down 7-4 to win 9-8 via a tiebreaker. The Mounties were 2-0 in tiebreakers on Wednesday.
“I’m proud of my guys for playing so much better in the return match against Riverheads. We almost pulled it off, and we showed a lot of mental toughness, which is a huge emphasis of mine. This can only help us going forward and we have to keep working”, said Mounties head coach, Seth Davis.
The Mounties looked like a much different team in their second meeting following their shutout loss to the Gladiators the first time around.
“I think we’re showing more mental toughness. We are doing better having a “next point” approach and not dwelling on mistakes. Our fundamentals are gradually improving as well. I was happy the guys didn’t back down after losing 0-9 to them previously and being down 0-4 Wednesday”, said Davis.
The team finished 2-1 in doubles on Wednesday. It was only their fourth loss in doubles on the season. The Mounties overall in doubles this year are 20-4.
The Mounties stand at six wins and two losses following the first half of the season. With the second half to begin this Tuesday, coach Davis knows his team has to continue to get better as the they have all District teams left on their schedule.
On Tuesday, the Mounties begin their strides to the second half of the season with an away match against Radford. Radford was in the state semifinals last season.
As the teams gets ready to start their second half of the season on Tuesday, we’ll break down the first half of the season for the Mounties in Tuesday’s edition as well what’s to come in the second half.
————————–
Riverheads (5) at Alleghany (4)
April 6, 2022
SINGLES:
Baron Leitch (A) defeated Swatts 8-6
Higgins (R) defeated Maddox Crance 8-0
Coree Nicely (A) defeated Eppard 9-8
C. Cash (R) defeated Eli Entsminger 8-6
Mays (R) defeated McKinley Goodbar 8-0
R. Cash (R) defeated Nathan Clark 8-3
DOUBLES:
Leitch/Crance (A) defeated Higgins and Eppard 8-3
Nicely/Cark (A) defeated Swatts and Mays 9-8
C. Cash/R. Cash (R) defeated Entsminger/Goodbar 8-5
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.