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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

After a string of narrow triumphs, Davie’s tennis team didn’t need any scintillating, down-to-the-wire wins this time.

The War Eagles scorched Mt. Tabor 7-2 in Winston-Salem on Sept. 23. The outcome extended a torrid pace for Davie, which improved to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the Central Piedmont Conference.

“It was 5-1 in singles,” coach Collin Ferebee said. “That’s not to say it was super easy, but having a match over after singles was a little bit less stressful.”

All five of Davie’s singles wins were decisive. At No. 1, freshman Elliot Newsome won 6-1, 6-0 over a senior. At No. 3, Whitney DeLoach won 6-3, 6-0. At No. 4, Sarah West Marklin won 6-4, 6-1. At No. 5, Abby Fletcher won 6-2, 6-1. And at No. 6, Leslie Newsom won 6-2, 6-1.

After looking shaky in the beginning, Marklin caught fire.

“She got down early,” Ferebee said. “She was down 4-1 at one point and turned it around.”

Although sophomore Tru Koren lost 6-2, 6-3 to a senior at No. 2, she gave a good account her herself.

“Tru didn’t win, but she played really hard,” he said. “(The senior from Tabor) is probably one of the better two seeds in the conference. It was a lot closer than the score.”

For good measure, Davie took two of three doubles. Newsome/Newsom won 9-7 and DeLoach/Fletcher 8-4.

While Davie is flying high, Reagan and West Forsyth have two CPC losses each and Reynolds has three. Davie has six CPC matches remaining, and four of them are against Tabor (1-6 CPC), Parkland and Glenn – the league’s bottom-feeders. In short, Davie is sitting pretty in its quest for the league championship.

“We know it’s now on the table for us (to win the league),” Ferebee said. “We can’t deny that anymore. But we also know you don’t win matches on paper; you’ve got to go out and do it. If we start thinking it’s over before we step on the court, then we’re going to lose. The girls are focussed about that. Today was a must-win match, and they went out there and won it.”

The most remarkable part of Davie’s memorable season has been its ability to keep trucking without its top player, injured Karlie Quinn. Davie is 4-0 without her.

“I’m hopeful (she’ll be back before season’s end),” he said. “Karlie is super important to us and we miss her. But the team has proven that we can still win without Karlie. I want her back – don’t get me wrong – but the team has really, really stepped up in her absence.”

Notes: Although this was the first meeting since 2016, Davie has won five straight over the Spartans. Interestingly enough, all five victories have been 7-2. … DeLoach is 7-0 at the three, five and six seeds. Newsome is 7-1 at one and two. Fletcher is 5-0 at five and six. Cat Rosser is 5-0 at five and six. Marklin is 5-3 at four. Newsom is 3-0 at six. Newsome/Newsom are 6-0 at one and two doubles.