The Pam Pack tennis team continued to surge toward the postseason as it swept North Pitt 9-0 on Tuesday to win its final home match of the regular season.
“Winning this last one 9-0 is was really good for them,” said Washington tennis coach Miranda Whitney.
The Pam Pack (11-1, 9-0) lost its first match of the season against Northern Nash and since then has reeled off 11 straight wins en route to capturing the Eastern Plains Conference regular season championship.
“The first match was a nonconference match against a team that was a little bit tougher and I think that was really good practice for them,” Whitney said. “Since then we’ve really gotten it together.”
On Tuesday Washington continued to cruise as it rolled past the Panthers.
Playing in what could be her last home match, senior Kiara Smith downed Taylor Camp 6-1, 6-0 in singles play. Isabel Mayo topped Alex Summers 6-3, 6-0, Danielle Duckwall beat Amanda Ritz 6-2, 6-2, Hannah Stevens downed Michelle Farmer 6-2, 6-0, Tara O’Brien beat Hannah Cake 6-1, 6-2 and Sydney Harris rolled past Breanne Cutler 6-1, 6-3.
“They did much better in singles today,” Whitney said. “That’s something that we worked on in practice yesterday; not hitting it right back to their opponent. They did a much better job of moving their opponents around today.”
Washington’s stellar played carried over into the doubles portion of the match. Smith and Mayo teamed up to earn an 8-4 win, while Duckwall and Harris won 8-5 and Stevens and O’Brien cruised to a 8-3 victory.
Of the three doubles games, Harris and Duckwall found themselves in the most compelling one, but the duo prevailed in a lengthy match.
“It was just kind of sloppy at the beginning, there was a lot of mistakes,” Whitney said. “But, they were able to get focused and get it together to win.”
Tuesday’s match could potentially be the last home one for fellow seniors Smith and exhibition player McKenzie Worley, and Whitney said that they have both been key contributors.
“Kiara is kind of our leader because she plays the No. 1 spot an the girls look up to her to lead the team,” Whitney said. “McKenzie is a good exhibition player and she has played for all four years. She’s been a good part of the team.”