The Madison County High School girls’ tennis team has been plagued by injury and illness all season, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the subregion standings.
The Lady Raider netters are 7-0 in Region 8-AAAA North play and stand alone in first place heading into today’s (Thursday’s) match with Habersham Central.
“With all of the illness and injury we’ve had recently, I’m very pleased with the depth of our lineup,” coach Keith Strickland said. “Our girls have really stepped it up when we needed it – some playing in positions that they may not want to or are not accustomed to playing.”
On Friday against Apalachee, Madison County again played with a shuffled lineup, but it mattered little as it pulled off another subregion victory. The Lady Raiders dominated the visiting Lady Wildcats with 6-0, 6-0 victories at no. 1 and 2 singles and no. 2 doubles in a 5-0 win.
Prior to the Apalachee win, Madison County overpowered Cedar Shoals at each position last Thursday (March 18) in a 5-0 win.
The Lady Raiders lost just five games collectively in recording the shut out. Sophomore singles player Sam LaZear didn’t lose a game in her match.
“Sam LaZear, playing no. 2 singles, came out strong again — punishing her opponent 6-0, 6-0,” Strickland noted.
Alexia Supakorndej was again pressed into service in singles play and responded with a 6-1, 6-0 win. “(She) played well again, as she had to step into the singles lineup,” Strickland said.
One day earlier (March 17), the Lady Raiders led the Lady Gladiators 3-0 when that match was suspended due to slippery court conditions. The remaining two matches were never finished. Madison County had to retire its no. 2 singles match due to an injury to Adrienne Fitzpatrick, and Clarke Central retired the no 3 singles match due to injury, giving the Lady Raiders a 4-1 win.
Vs. Apalachee (March 19), W, 5-0
Winners:
•No. 1 singles: Jeannie Bowen, W, 6-0, 6-0
•No. 2 singles: Sam LaZear, W, 6-0, 6-0
•No. 3 singles: Alexia Supakorndej, W, 6-1, 6-0
•No. 1 doubles: KayLee Bates/Kaitlyn Hale, W, 6-1, 6-1
•No. 2 doubles: Abby Morgan/Jenny Ortman, W, 6-0, 6-0
Vs. Cedar Shoals (March 18), W, 5-0
Winners:
•No. 1 singles: Jeannie Bowen, W, 6-1, 6-1
•No. 2 singles: Sam LaZear, W, 6-0, 6-0
•No. 3 singles: Alexia Supakorndej, W, 6-1, 6-0
•No. 1 doubles: Kaitlyn Hale/KayLee Bates, W, 6-1, 6-0
•No. 2 doubles: Jenny Ortman/Abby Morgan, W, 6-0, 6-1
Vs. Clarke Central (March 17), W, 4-1
Winners:
•No. 1 singles: Jeannie Bowen, W, 6-0, 6-0
•No. 3 singles: Sam LaZear, W, 6-2, 2-3 (retired)
•No. 1 doubles: Alexia Supakorndej/KayLee Bates, W, 6-1, 6-0
•No. 2 doubles: Kaitlyn Hale/Abby Morgan, W, 6-0, 6-0
