GIRLS TENNIS
FILE PHOTO
Taylor Orlando (pictured) and her doubles partner Caroline Kohls are scheduled to participate
today's (Friday's) 4-A Mideast Regional held at the Cary Tennis Center.
Lady Wolverines compete in tennis regional Friday
With their performances at last week's Cap-7 Conference tournament, five members of the Wakefield girls tennis team advanced to today's (Friday's) 4-A Mideast Regional held at the Cary Tennis Center.
Ally Prior, playing in singles' competition, and the doubles tandems of Shani Ervin and Alanna Albrecht and Taylor Orlando and Caroline Kohls are all slated to play in Cary. The contest kicks off at 2 p.m., although matches are not finalized until a coaches' meeting at 1 p.m.
The regional event comes three days after the Lady Wolverines' 6-0 defeat against Green Hope in the first round of the 4-A NCHSAA state playoffs.
GALLERY: Images from Cap-7 tennis tournament
The Cap-7 Conference hosted its tennis tournament this week. For photos of the action, click above.
Leesville Road senior Bailey Wilson scored a 7-5, 6-2 victory in her final home match Wednesday.
Pride defeats Wakefield in finale
Although the Broughton and Wakefield tennis teams already secured the Cap-7 Conferences' two automatic bids into the state tennis playoffs, Leesville Road didn't go down without a fight in its regular-season finale with the Lady Wolverines Wednesday afternoon.
On the strength of its excellent singles play, winning five of six contests, the Pride recorded a 6-3 victory.
And in their last career home match, seniors Amy Weischedel, Julianne Dragan and Bailey Wilson finished on a high note, posting three wins.
It's a deserving conclusion to their careers, explained Pride coach Melissa Bowman, adding the trio were "integral to our winning season."
Caroline Kohls has steadily improved this season, helping the Wakefield tennis team get within reach of a playoff spot, according to head coach Ken Stewart.
Wakefield tennis has playoffs in sights
The Wakefield girls tennis team's weather-shortened 5-2 victory over Enloe Monday provided the Lady Wolverines with breathing room entering the final stretch of the regular season.
With just three matches remaining, including Thursday's match at Sanderson, Wakefield needs to win only two of its last three contests to clinch second place in the Cap-7 Conference, earning an automatic bid into the state playoffs.
"It was a big win for us because it puts us up in the loss column," said Wakefield head coach Ken Stewart.
Shani Ervin and the Wakefield girls tennis team host Leesville Road in a crucial match Tuesday.
Wakefield tennis getting back on track
Wolverines, Pride square off Tuesday
While the tennis season has only reached its halfway point this week, Wakefield's home match with Leesville Road Tuesday already has playoff implications.
With Broughton all but certain to go through the Cap-7 Conference unbeaten, the Lady Wolverines and Pride square off for second place, and the league's second of two automatic playoff births.
Although there's a chance the third-place finisher might draw a wild-card appearance, the only way to guarantee a postseason spot is taking the Cap-7's runner-up spot.
Jenna Martin and the Wakefield girls tennis team fell to Broughton 9-0 Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Broughton bests Wakefield tennis
In a clash between the Cap-7 Conference's two best girls tennis squads Tuesday, Broughton established itself as the team to beat, defeating Wakefield 9-0.
In singles play, Hamilton Lovett defeated Ally Prior 6-1, 6-0, Katie Davidson beat Shani Ervin 6-0, 6-1, Katie Kane dropped Taylor Orlando 6-0, 6-0, Camille Runyans downed Alanna Albrecht 6-0, 6-0, Kelsey Boole overtook Caroline Kohls 6-1, 6-0, and Asha Iyengar bested Jenna Martin 6-2, 6-0.
Wolverines fall to Caps
Click onphotograph above to see pictures from Wakefield's girls tennis match against Broughton Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Wolverines open season
The Wakefield girls tennis team opened its season with a 6-3 victory over Durham Riverside last week. Click on the photograph above for more pictures of the action.
Shani Ervin (left) and Alanna Albrecht will be key players
on the Wakefield girls tennis team this fall. The Lady Wolverines are expected to push Broughton in the Cap-7 Conference.
'Make sure our will
exceeds our skill'
While assessing the Wakefield girls tennis team's potential this fall, Wakefield junior Alanna Albrecht couldn't help but quote her coach, Ken Stewart.
"We need to make sure our will exceeds our skill," she chuckled, raising her voice enough to make sure her coach heard the response.
The Lady Wolverines and Stewart seemingly have a half-dozen mottos ready to use at anytime — some self-explanatory; others not so much — but the "will over skill" phrase is one of the most popular.
