Pisgah girls' tennis starts off 2-1
Sep. 4—CANTON — Coming off disappointing campaign last season, which saw the Pisgah girls' tennis team go 3-8 record in conference play, the Lady Bears are off to an encouraging start.
Through the first three matches, the team is 2-1 overall and in 1-1 in conference tilts.
The first match of the year was a conference battle against Smoky Mountain.
The Bears swept the singles matches and wonall three double contests.
The Mustangs could only win 14 games in the six singles competitions, and the Bears dominated 60-14 in games played.
The four returning seniors — Kennedy Barker, Kristi Shuford, Asjaya Sutton and Heather Robinson — all contributed match wins.
"It's a good start when you win against a conference opponent," said head coach Harold Shepard. "It's the first time we played anybody for real this season, and we jumped on them. They hustle in everything they do. They are a very interesting group, they push each other and they make each other get better. The attitude and mindset is a whole lot different this year. They come out expecting to win."
Next up was a non-conference skirmish against Owen High School in Black Mountain Aug. 23. Pisgah defeated the Warhorses 6-3.
"That was another good match. We played well, got wins. Down the line, I was pleased with the effort," said Shepard.
Pisgah's next contest was against a talented Franklin team, and the Panthers shut the Bears 9-0 in a show of strength Monday, Aug. 29.
Franklin finished second in the Mountain 7 3A Conference last season.
The Bears dominated both singles and doubles with easy wins over the two set contest.
"Franklin was not a bad effort. It was a lot of deuce matches, and we just didn't come out of the winning end of it. The team is upbeat, they come out and practice every day and do what they are supposed to do. They are going to win a lot of matches," Shepard said.
"We weren't as prepared for Franklin as we thought we were. We won so well in the first two [matches], we went to Franklin thinking we were going to do really well. Our arrogance is what set us back," said senior Heather Robinson.
Each week some girls compete in challenge matches to elevate their spots on the team and earn the right to play in conference contests.
"They're all pushing each other and making each other better. Iron sharpens iron," Shepard said.
