Boys’ tennis team downs Athens Academy

The squad defeated the Spartans 4-1, improving to 16-2 overall and 10-0 in the region.

“The varsity boys’ match was one of the best team matches that we’ve played all year,” said Madison County head coach Keith Strickland. “We knew going in that Athens Academy had a strong line-up, especially at the singles positions. Our boys came out ready to play.”

The coach said Ben Strickland played his “best match this season” in ousting a “very good player (Houston Gaines) in straight sets” and improving to 17-1 on the season.

Strickland said Josh Dooley/Zach Peneguy “played a great match and defeated a very good doubles team” in straight sets to give the Red Raiders the 2-1 lead with Trey Morris (#1S) and Connor Hancock/Jared Osborne (#1D) heading into third sets after splitting the first two.

Hancock and Osborne were down 6-7, 5-6 (after being up 5-1) and fought back to take the second set 7-6 and battled to a 6-2 third set win to clinch the team win for Madison County.

“Trey Morris continued his winning ways by outplaying a very good player (Kevin Dong) in the third (6-3),” said Strickland. “The quality of play was great on both sides of the net for the entire team match. Gaining a win against a perennial tennis powerhouse (Single A) was just what we needed as we head in to the region tournament.”

While the guys won, the Madison County girls fell 4-1, dropping to 13-5 overall and 8-2 in the region.

“Our doubles played pretty well,” said Strickland.
“Adrienne Fitzpatrick and KayLee Bates played a great match and won easily 6-2, 6-2. They really seem to be coming together as a team as we head down the stretch. Abby Morgan/Morgan Dooley played a good match that could have gone our way if we’d won a few more of the big points. Audra Minish played a very competitive first set.”
Here’s a recap of Madison County’s match with Athens Academy.

Varsity boys — Madison County 4, Athens Academy 1
•#1 singles — Trey Morris defeated Kevin Dong 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
•#2 singles — Ben Strickland defeated Houston Gaines 6-4, 6-2.
•#3 singles — Tyler Terrell lost to Danny Sullivan 6-1, 6-2.
•#1 doubles — Connor Hancock and Jared Osborne defeated Robert Slocumbe and TJ Sterrenberg 6-7, 7-6, 6-2.
•#2 doubles — Josh Dooley and Zach Peneguy defeated Nathan Iyer and Will Seagraves 6-2, 6-4.

Varsity girls — Athens Academy 4, Madison County 1
•#1 singles — Savannah Mainland lost to Caroline Doherty 6-0, 6-1.
•#2 singles — Audra Minish lost to Rhea Chatterjee 6-4, 6-0.
•#3 singles — Abby Thrasher lost to Melissa Corry 6-0, 6-0.
•#1 doubles — Adrienne Fitzpatrick and KayLee Bates beat Anna Justice and Conley Messer 6-2, 6-2.
•#2 doubles — Abby Morgan and Morgan Dooley lost to Dakota Williams and Elizabeth Sinyard 6-4, 7-5.

JV boys — Madison County 3, Athens Academy 1
•#1 singles — Adam Sartain defeated Jordan Sennowitz 8-2.
•#2 singles — Koti Nguyen lost to Hayden Lanzilotta 8-3.
•#3 singles — Hayden Colquitt defeated Nick Rorabaugh 8-0.
•#1 doubles — Aaron Sartain and CJ Bidinger defeated Nick Vantsev and Obaid 8-4.

JV girls — Athens Academy 3, Madison County 0
•#1 singles — Morgan Dooley lost to Leah Stapper 8-1.
•#2 singles — Kassey Conner lost to Kayla Cherry 8-3.
•#1 doubles — Mackenzie LaZear and Anna Crouse lost to Caroline Fenno and Kendall Santamaria 8-1.