Athens Drive outlasts Apex Friendship girls tennis

It came down to a third-set tiebreaker in final match, but neither coach would tell their player that – though the players may have figured that out on their own as the air grew more tense. In the end Athens Drive’s Melanie Darges sealed a Jaguars 5-4 Southwest Wake Athletic Conference win at Apex Friendship with a 6-4, 5-7 (10-6) win at No. 4 singles on Monday.

APEX FRIENDSHIP

The Patriots (2-7, 2-7) have come a long way in a little time. Friendship started last season with no coach and only a few players, which forced early-season matches to be postponed.

No such problems this year for the Patriots, who have had a lot of interest. Friendship had more than 20 players try out but only 13 made the team.

“A lot of them only started playing (the sport) last year. And last year we won three games against (Athens Drive) and this year we took four courts,” coach Allison Byrd said. “Girls who weren’t playing last year are playing this year.”

Friendship’s new No. 1 singles player is freshman Grace Schmonsees (won 6-3, 6-0 on Monday). Junior Sabrina Raynor plays at No. 2, sophomore Whitney Lammers at No. 3, junior Skylar Raynor at No. 4 and sophomores Samantha Duggans (won 6-0, 6-2) and Mansi Sakarvadia (6-0, 6-4) at Nos. 5 and 6.

ATHENS DRIVE

The Jaguars (2-7, 2-7) only have three returning players and much of the roster is new to tennis.

“A lot of them are just learning how to keep score,” coach Lisa Smedley said. “They’ve never really ever played at all.”

One of those players is Darges, an all-conference softball player who decided to pick up the racquet this fall in her senior year.

“She’s a real good athlete and it came down to her pulling us through,” coach Smedley said.

The experienced trio that the Jaguars are relying on heavily is No. 1 singles player Kristen Smedley, a senior, No. 2 Irena Brain (won 6-0, 6-0 Monday), a junior, and senior No. 3 Katherine Clapp (won 6-1, 6-1).

“They’ve all been playing since their freshman years,” coach Smedley said.

Sophomore Payal Mehta plays No. 5 and freshman Jenna Denton is No. 6. Athens won two doubles matches 8-1 and 8-2 but lost No. 3 8-2.

This story was originally published September 16, 2016 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Athens Drive outlasts Apex Friendship girls tennis."