By Staff
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Davey Ann Burbage and Caroline Cherry were hoping to leave with balloons and a victory. However, they got to leave with balloons only as the New Bern Bears spoiled Senior Night, taking a 7-2 win in Tuesday’s Coastal Conference tennis action.
It wasn’t all bad for the Pam Pack seniors. Burbage bounced back from a tiebreaker loss in singles to combine with Shannon Niederhauser for a doubles victory. Meanwhile, Cherry earned a win in exhibition play.
Sophomore Beth Batchelor picked up Washington’s lone win in singles play, downing Kara Klowers at No. 1 singles in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Mary Margaret Fowle may have lost her match at No. 2 singles to Alex Cella, but drew praise from Pippin. Fowle stepped up in place of the team’s regular No. 2 player, Hayley Stowe, who was out with an illness.
Sam Junak took a two-set win over Mary Potocki to give New Bern (10-4) a 2-1 lead in singles play.
The final three singles matches went down to the wire. The Bears were able to win them all.
Lauren Kemp held off Burbage, 6-4, 1-6, 10-4; Courtney Hendricks got past Janie Page, 7-5, 7-6, and Kelly Romig snuck past Shannon Niederhauser, 6-2, 1-6, 10-7.
Burbage and Niederhauser gave Washington (10-4, 8-4) its second victory with an 8-3 nod at No. 3 doubles.
Batchelor and Tierra Locklear, who was filling in for Stowe, played well at No. 1 doubles, but dropped an 8-5 decision to Klowers and Cella. Potocki and Page also put up a good fight before falling 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.
Despite the loss, the Pack still has plenty to play for this season.
The Pack returns to the court Thursday in New Bern for the Coastal Conference tournament. The top four seeds advance to regional action.
Washington will await its fate in the Dual Team Tennis Tournament. A top seed will land the Pack at home on Tuesday.
New Bern 7, Washington 2
Beth Batchelor (W) d. Kara Klowers 6-2, 6-4; Alex Cella (NB) d. Mary Margaret Fowle 6-0, 6-0; Sam Junak (NB) d. Mary Potocki 6-2, 6-3; Lauren Kemp (NB) d. Davey Ann Burbage 6-4, 1-6, 10-4; Courtney Hendricks (NB) d. Janie Page 7-5, 7-6; Kelly Romig (NB) d. Shannon Niederhauser 6-2, 1-6, 10-7;
Klowers-Cella (NB) d. Batchelor-Tierra Locklear 8-5; Junak-Kemp (NB) d. Potocki-Page 8-3; Burbage-Batchelor (W) d. Hendricks-Romig 8-3.
Exhibition: Carolina Cherry-Sam Romero won 8-5; Paige Ingalls-Hailey Stringer won 8-3; Veronica Zapata won 6-4.