Hollins – Both of the Cavalier #1 seeded tennis players, Erika McKenzie and Ethan Richardson have plenty of life awaiting them now that they have graduated 🎓 from Carroll County High School. McKenzie is on her way to James Madison University and Richardson is headed to Bluefield University as Students.
The two players had one final opportunity to perform as Student Athletes in the Regional tournament Monday at Hollins University.
McKenzie, seeded seventh in the eight player field matched up with #2 seed Grayson Woodall of Abingdon High School. McKenzie fell in straight sets against the highly skilled Woodall and then the Falcon did the same to her next opponent to reach the finals, set for tomorrow morning.
Richardson played in the #3-#6 match against Rian Patel of Cave Spring High School. The pair had just competed against each other on Friday afternoon during the team competition, with Patel winning that match.
Patel prevailed in straight sets once again, this time by a score of 6-1, 6-3 and then went on to advance to the Championship match on Tuesday morning.
With hours to wait for the start of their doubles match, both of the ultra competitive Seniors reflected on their final Singles match, alongside their partners, Khloe Akers and Maverick Baker.
McKenzie and Akers were first out and were facing a duo from Staunton River. It’s worth noting that the morning had started at 7:45 when everyone departed from The Hill and McKenzie had performed all weekend as a dancer.
The first set did not go as planned as the Lady Cavaliers struggled with winning points, let alone games. But then something special happened across the entirety of what would prove to the final set. At a place in the long day that it would have been the easiest to play out the string, Carroll County pulled within 5-4. SRHS would capture the tenth and final game to close out the match, 6-4 but our Lady Cavaliers pushed right up to the final point.
Richardson and Baker struggled in their opening set against the #3 seeded duo from Magna Vista, falling by a score of 6-3. Midway through a highly competitive second set the Cavaliers found another gear ⚙ and even took the lead at 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3. The Warriors pushed things to match point at 5-4 before CCHS won two straight to make it 6-5.
Down to their final swings, Richardson and Baker now had M-V facing a winner take all third set. The Warriors pushed things to a tiebreaker by winning the next game to knot things up at 6-6.
First to seven but you have to win by two and neither team could create enough separation to win the set. Magna Vista finally walked away with a 7-6 (9-7) second set victory and therefore the match.
McKenzie and Richardson will now move in to face the challenges that await College freshman. Akers and Baker will return next season and both figure to slide into the #1 slots for Carroll County High School.
The final stat line shows that CCHS went 0-4 on the day but know that the Cavaliers were well represented by both Coaches and all four players.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 