Hard-luck Polk girls tennis squad falls to Avery

Polk County opened its Western Highlands Conference girls tennis schedule on Thursday, dropping an 8-1 decision to Avery.

Playing without No. 1 singles player Rhian Alley, who is expected to miss the next few matches with a sprained ankle, the Wolverines were forced to juggle their lineup and shuffle each singles player up a level, a factor in the final score, according to head coach Richard Davis.

“The girls played hard as always and some even played the opponent reasonably close, but being out of their level took its toll,” Davis said. “Haven Dufford played a great match at number one and was even up 7-4 at one point, but reality set in and experience took over.”

Polk already lost Alley’s younger sister, Reese, for the season with a broken wrist.

The Wolverines are back on the court Tuesday, hosting Owen in another WHC match.

SINGLES
1. Savannah Church (A) d. Haven Dufford 10-7. 2. Morgan Paris (A) d. Juniper Walter-Eger 10-6. 3. Madison Johnson (A) d. Trinity Branham 10-5. 4. Ollianne Raney( A) d Bella Marino 10-0. 5. Hannah Rice (A) d. Alicia Twitty 10-3. 6. Destiny Morrison d. Sarah Woods(PC) 10-2

DOUBLES
1. Dufford/Walter-Eger (PC) d. Church/Thomas 8-5. 2. Rainey/Andrews (A) d. Branham/Marino 8-6. 3. Rice/Kitchin (A) d Twitty/Woods 8-0.