Manner of Hendersonville loss gives Wolverines reason for enthusiasm

The scoreboard Thursday read solely in Hendersonville’s favor. But it didn’t feel that way for Polk County girls tennis coach Richard Davis.

The Wolverines dropped a 7-0 decision to a Hendersonville team expected to be in the mix for a 2A state title. But the manner of the setback gave Davis reason to be enthused about the future.

Take the No. 1 singles match, where Polk’s Hannah Jenne dropped an 11-9 decision to Hendersonville’s McCullough Perry, last year’s 2A state runner-up.

“Hannah and McCullough played an ESPN Instant Classic, two and a half-hour match,” Davis said. “Every point was a minimum 15-20 ball rally with one reaching 53 in a row. Simply incredible.”

Jenne had two match points in the contest, but Perry hung on for the win.

At No. 4 singles, Virginia Rostick battled back from a 5-2 deficit and had three match point opportunities, but Hendersonville’s Maggie Tinsley fought back for an 11-9 win.

And so on.

“Without question we are getting mentally tough and I feel that good things are going to happen for us down the road,” Davis said.

Polk County (3-3) will host T.C. Roberson on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

SINGLES
1. McCullough Perry (H) d. Hannah Jenne 11-9; 2. Lindsay Bull d. Tana Harris 10-1; 3. Hamrick Perry d. Julia Griffin 10-4; 4. Maggie Tinsley d. Virgina Rostick 11-9; 5. Ellie Jull d. Sara Muse 10-3; 6. Anna Trace d. Ava Marino 10-5.

DOUBLES
3. Trace-Celia Donaldson d. Muse-Marino 8-1.