Panther Creek ends the Clayton girls tennis team’s unbeaten season
A coin flip is about the only loss Panther Creek’s girls tennis team has suffered this year.
The Catamounts and Clayton were both unbeaten conference champions entering the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state team tournament, but Panther Creek was forced to travel despite its stature as the two-time defending state champions.
No matter. The talented and deep Catamounts (18-0) swept Clayton (18-1) in singles for a 6-0 win Thursday on the Comets’ courts.
For Panther Creek of the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference, it was another step toward bringing home a third state title plaque for the school trophy case. Five of the top players from last year’s state title lineup returned.
As the newcomer, freshman Melody Zhang, who won her No. 6 singles matches 6-0, 6-0, has fit in well. But that came as no surprise to her older teammates that knew her talent from working with her in recent years at the Cary Tennis Center.
“I didn’t feel pressure; I just try to play the matches to help my team,” Zhang said. “I was afraid I might get worse (playing high school tennis), but I think I’ve actually gotten better. I’m better in doubles and in general I think my strokes are more accurate from playing matches all the time.”
Panther Creek’s other wins were from Penn State-bound Sammi Smith, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1; Western Carolina-bound Jordan Strickland, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2; senior Orla Labiche, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3; junior Amanda Cyr, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4; and junior Aishani Tingre, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5.
For a Clayton lineup that returns all six players from a Greater Neuse River Conference title season, losing was a learning experience for 2016. That was especially true for No. 1 singles player Carmelle Joyner, a junior with tough draws in individual and team play.
Clayton defeated Lumberton in the first round of the state tournament to advance before Joyner faced Panther Creek and was matched up with Smith. In the individual tournament, Joyner lost in the first round to two-time defending state champion Susanne Boyden of Wakefield.
“Every tough match helps my game, said Joyner, the three-time GNRC singles champion. “I can always learn from my mistakes. I learned I have to to start out matches better. I need to start the match with a better intensity level.”
The only other Clayton player to win a game was freshman Crystal Anderson at No. 4 singles.
This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Panther Creek ends the Clayton girls tennis team’s unbeaten season."