Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Three freshmen made a statement in the first week of the Davie tennis season. Luke Cranfill, Riley Mallory and Chris Samet – the 4-5-6 seeds in the Davie lineup – combined for five singles wins in two matches.
The season opener was also the CPC opener. Visiting Reynolds took down the War Eagles 6-3 on Feb. 24, extending their losing streak to five dating to 2024.
It was 3-3 after singles thanks to wins from Cranfill, Mallory and Samet. The Demons, however, swept doubles.
“Luke, Riley and Chris didn’t look like freshmen playing in a first match,” 11th-year coach Shane Nixon said. “And when the bright lights did shine in their eyes, they responded. Riley got behind in the second set but pulled away. Chris got off to a slow start but found a way to claw back and get it done.”
Nixon was not discouraged by the loss.
“Reynolds has gotten so much better,” he said. “They are young – one senior in top six – and they are really good. I’m excited about what we can be, and can’t wait to put the work in to make it happen.”
Davie 6, EF 3
The War Eagles bounced back two days later in another CPC match, beating East Forsyth to stop a 1-7 slump going back to 2024.
Davie held a 4-2 edge in singles behind wins from Barrett Taylor at No. 3, Cranfill at four, Mallory at five and sophomore Brady Carter at six.
The doubles winners were Taylor/Carter and Cranfill/Samet.
“The freshmen continue to sparkle,” Nixon said. “Chris is battling a pulled muscle but toughed it out to get his first doubles win. Getting Brady back to being Brady was something I knew had to happen. He had a rough week during seeding play as we prepped for the season, but kudos to him for not hanging his head and complaining. He’s the real deal.”
Nixon had high praise one of his seniors (Taylor).
“Barrett is one of those kids, and in this case that is as positive as it can be,” he said. “He’s smart, a straight A student, he’s involved. He does band, is in clubs, is an Eagle Scout, etc. He’s the kind of kid we talk about when we say better off the court than on. But right now he’s only as good off as on because he is playing so well on the court.”