The Shadow
On April 1st, the Alleghany Mountaineers (6-4/0-2) boys tennis team swept a doubleheader with Martinsville to improve their record to 6-1 on the season.
Since their victories over Martinsville, the Mounties have now dropped three in a row following their recent loss on Thursday at home to the Floyd County Buffaloes (4-2/1-0), 6-3.
“I think the guys will learn from the last three matches, but not dwell on them. It’s the first three-match losing streak since I started coaching tennis in 2013. If we clean up some fundamental stuff and decision making, we can get some more wins and improve out region seeding at Virginia Tech”, said Mounties head coach, Seth Davis, on the teams losing streak.
The Mounties fell to 0-2 in Three Rivers District play following the loss to the Buffaloes.
Despite the loss, the team put up a great effort. Baron Leitch, improved to a team best 8-2 in singles following 8-4 victory. Meanwhile, Maddox Crance, also picked up a big solo victory for the team, winning 8-4 as well. The Mounties were 2-4 in singles play against the Buffaloes.
“Floyd is a good team, we just are not executing at critical times. Our decision making in doubles is spotty, and overall we don’t move well”, added Davis on the match against the Buffaloes.
The Mounties were 1-2 in doubles play against the Buffaloes. Leitch and Crance, won 8-0 and have become a strong pair for the team.
During the Mounties three-game losing streak, the team has lost to Riverheads Gladiators (5-4), Radford Bobcats (8-1), and the Buffaloes (6-3).
The loss to the Gladiators was the teams second loss to them on the season. The team had shown a big improvement in their second match against them than the first time around where they were shutout 9-0. It was also the teams first loss of the season following a 4-0 start.
“The only match I’ve really been disappointed with is our 0-9 loss to Riverheads. We just didn’t compete and made excuses. I think mentally we are doing better, for the most part”, said Davis on the teams losses.
For the Mounties, the team has several positive outlooks despite the losing streak. As mentioned above, Leitch, has improved his singles record to 8-2 and Coree Nicely, despite a two-game solo losing streak, is 7-3 overall and brings a veteran leadership to the team. Add in Maddox Crance who is 4-2 in singles matches and has performed well in doubles with Leitch. It’s easy to believe that with the talent on the team that losing streak won’t last long.
“They’ve done well overall (Leitch, Nicely, Crance) and have to continue to become more consistent. Eli (Entsminger), is only a freshman and even if he loses, I know how good he can become. I can see him at Baron’s level in the next year or two”, said Davis on his players.
The Mounties will look to end their losing streak at home this coming Tuesday against the Glenvar Highlanders.
“Coree and Eli, will be playing two doubles against Glenvar. They’ve worked a good deal in practice together. Coy Brown, has moved to the lineup which is good to see. Glenvar’s one and two are pretty solid, but I don’t know much about their three to six seeds. We just have to play clean” said Davis on changes to his lineup against the Highlanders.
The match against the Highlanders takes place at 4:30 p.m. at Clifton Middle School.
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Tuesday, March 22
Floyd 6, AHS 3
Singles:
Baron Leitch (A) defeated Catram, 8-4
Maddox Crance (A) defeated Belcher, 8-4
Schrader (F) defeated Coree Nicely, 8-3
Howard (F) defeated Eli Entsminger, 8-3
Powers (F) defeated Nathan Clark, 8-2
Nunez (F) defeated Coy Brown, 8-3
Doubles:
Leitch/Crance (A) defeated Catram/Nunez, 8-0
Belcher/Schrader (F) defeated Nicely/Clark, 8-5
Howard/Powers (F) defeated Entsminger/Goodbar, 9-8 (7-5)
