By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — After already clinching the Northwestern Conference regular season team title, Watauga women’s tennis head coach Jennifer Pillow put the “Senior Night” fate of the team in the hands of… the seniors, who came through to lead the Pioneers to a 7-2 win over Ashe County.
Senior Madison Ogden moved up to play No. 1 singles against Ashe County senior Claira Corley. After a tug of war in the first set in which Ogden eventually prevailed 7-6 (7-2) that saw the lead change hands at almost every crossover, the Pioneer who has more often played No. 2 singles this year was more convincing in the second set, winning 6-3.
Pioneer sophomore Sienna Davidson, who stepped down to No. 2 singles for Senior Night from her usual No. 1 singles position, had less trouble from Ashe County freshman Addison Dollar, 6-0, 6-1.
At No. 3 singles, senior Amira Younce sailed past Huskies junior Julia Herman, 6-2, 6-1, and at No. 4 singles, senior Alaina Muse got by Ashe County freshman Malea Lambert in a tussle, 7-5, 6-2.
Pioneer senior Laurel West stepped up to defeat Husky junior Olivia Glover, 6-4, 6-1, in the No. 5 singles match, before junior Ali Eller got Ashe County it’s first team point with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-1 win over Watauga senior Madeline Hays.
Pillow rostered an all-senior doubles lineup, with Ogden-Younce defeating Herman-Corley, 8-2, in No. 1 doubles before Ashe County got its final team point with Dollar teaming with Maleah Lovell to prevail over the Pioneer duo of Hays and Serena Jewell-Miller at No. 2 doubles, 8-0.
In the final matchup of the afternoon, Watauga seniors Macayla Kanoy and Katie Harrison dispatched the Husky tandem of Eller and Bailey Richardson, 8-3.
Next for Watauga will be the Oct. 21-22 NCHSAA West Regionals, to be hosted by Hough High School in Cornelius, according to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association website.
