The Avery tennis team continued its terrific roll of late, crowning champions in both singles and doubles competition on Thursday at Gardner-Webb University.In singles play, senior Anna Melton received a bye as a result of holding the #1 seed. In the semis Melton defeated Hendersonville's Christian Bobek by a 10-2 final score. Anna advanced to the title match where she faced Thomas Jefferson's Kasey Owens. Melton was dominant in dispatching the Lady Gryphon by a 10-2 final match score.
In doubles competition the team of seniors Lauren Avery and Morgan Stout received an opening round bye. The duo faced Hendersonville's Ellie Crane and Rose Stroupe, beating the Lady Bearcats tandem by an 8-1 final score. Avery/Stout then faced
the pair of Claire and Grace McCurry in a two-set final match score of 6-3, 6-0.Avery received a bye in state team competition, and will return to action to continue postseason play on October 27th.
On Thursday night the Avery Lady Vikings hosted their final home match of the season, tangling with the Lady Cougars from Mountain Heritage. The Lady Vikings junior varsity team captured the first setin their best-of-three match by a 25-21 final score. In a hard fought second set, the Cougars battled in come-from-behind fashion to even the match at a set apiece with a 27-25 win.
In the rubber set of the match, Avery built an early
advantage and led 22-11 midway through the last set. The Lady Cougars cut the deficit but Avery finished the match in style with a 25-17 victory.Thursday's match was originally set as Senior Night, but since the 2009 Lady Vikings have no seniors on its roster, the Avery volleyball parents and players honored head coach Kim Hayes and assistant Caroline Turner for their time and efforts. The coaches were presented with flowers by the players in an emotional pre-match recognition.
As for the match itself, the Lady Vikings played inspired and put up a valiant fight against a tall and talented Lady Cougars club. Heritage used a number of strong kills and a power game to deny victory to the Big Red, defeating Avery in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-16, and 25-19, respectively.
Avery will travel to Mitchell on Tuesday for its final match of the 2009 season.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has announced tee times for the 1A regional golf tournament to be held at Asheville Municipal Golf Course on Monday, October 19th.Avery's pair of regional qualifiers will be teeing off within ten minutes of one another. Avery's top finisher and lone All-Conference selection Catalina Lehmann will tee off at 11:14 a.m., while teammate Arden Stanley will be starting her round at 11:22 a.m.
The top three individuals at Regionals will qualify to participate in the state golf championships at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines, NC on October 26th and 27th.
