By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
JACKSONVILLE — Birthday girl Shannon Niederhauser had a couple big reasons to celebrate at Tuesday’s N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A Dual Team Tournament. Unfortunately, the White Oak Vikings blew out the candles on Washington’s cake with a 5-4 marathon victory at the Jacksonville Country Club.
With the match knotted at 3-apiece following singles play, the Pam Pack (10-5), the No. 2 seed in the Coastal Conference, needed two doubles victories to advance in the tournament. However, senior-dominated White Oak, the top seed in the Mideastern Conference, took two of the three matches to move on to the second round.
With regular No. 2 singles player Hayley Stowe out with an illness, the Pack was forced to alter the lineup. While Beth Batchelor stayed at No. 1 singles, all the other players moved up a spot.
Mary Margaret Fowle, who played admirably on a hot Tuesday afternoon, stepped into the open slot at No. 6 singles. Meanwhile, Tierra Locklear joined Batchelor in doubles action. While Fowle and Locklear both played well, Pippin said Stowe’s absence hurt the team.
Niederhauser was a bright spot for the Pam Pack. She defeated Dominique Moore in a grueling match at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 1-6, 10-7.
Niederhauser later joined Davey Ann Burbage, the lone senior playing Tuesday, at No. 3 doubles. The two combined to take down Moore and Munazza Abraham, 10-6. The victory kept the Pack duo unbeaten on the season.
Like her doubles teammate, Burbage had to go an extra set to determine the winner at No. 3 singles. Jessica Roff was able to pull out a 6-3, 5-7, 10-7 win.
Joining Niederhauser in winning their singles matches were Batchelor and Mary Potocki. Batchelor picked off Lindsey Cline by a 6-1, 6-1 count. Potocki, playing at No. 2 singles, also won in straight sets with a 6-1, 6-4 nod over Meghan Edwards.
Janie Page fell at No. 4 singles as White Oak’s Bethany Martin posted a 6-3, 6-4 win. Abraham topped Fowle at No. 6 singles, 6-2, 6-2.
With the Pack only losing Burbage, Pippin believes the future looks bright for the tennis team.
The season isn’t over for the Pack just yet. Pippin and co-coach Michelle Elks have five girls who will compete in the 3A individual regional tournament in Wilson beginning Friday.
Batchelor will play in singles, while the doubles duos of Burbage-Niederhauser and Potocki-Page will also make the trip.
NCHSAA 3A Dual Team Tournament
First Round
White Oak 5, Washington 4
Beth Batchelor (W) d. Lindsey Cline 6-1, 6-1; Mary Potocki (W) d. Meghan Edwards 6-1, 6-4; Jessica Roff (WO) d. Davey Ann Burbage 6-3, 5-7, 10-7; Bethany Martin (WO) d. Janie Page 6-3, 6-4; Shannon Niederhauser (W) d. Dominique Moore 6-4, 1-6, 10-7; Munazza Abraham (WO) d. Mary Margaret Fowle 6-2, 6-2;
Cline-Edwards (WO) d. Batchelor-Tierra Locklear 10-6; Roff-Martin (WO) d. Potocki-Page; Burbage-Niederhauser (W) d. Moore-Abraham 10-6.
Exhibition: D’Lorah Pierce won 8-0, lost 8-6; Samara Romero-Veronica Zapata lost 10-4.