Tuesday’s area sports briefs: Green Sea Floyds girls tennis wins opener
Tracy Kienast’s team returned most of its core.
However, what the Green Sea Floyds tennis program did lose is its Nos. 1 and 2 players.
With Kaylee Jordan and Courtney Faulk moving up in the lineup to those spots the Trojans topped Marion 6-1 in their season opener Tuesday to get off to a good start.
“It’s been good,” Kienast said of the transition. “We did our challenge matches to start the season and it was very competitive. They’ve all stepped up. They’re all pushing each other. They went in with the mindset that we’re not going to let ‘so and so’ be No. 1. They all battled for it.”
After winning a region championship a year ago, Kienast said Green Sea Floyds’ expectations are just as high with several returning players.
“We’ve got a good core,” he said. “Hopefully we can make some noise and do our best to try to defend our region.”
Kienast said every player on the team came out for summer workouts and some worked with tennis professionals on their own to improve their play. “Everyone’s jumped in,” he said.
Kienast said practice matches have been intense with players jockeying for position.
“They’ve been fighting as hard as they will on the season in matches,” he said. “I’m very excited with the group coming back and with the couple new girls. I’m looking forward to the season.”
So were his players, who had to help dry the courts after rain Tuesday just to get the season opener in.
“They’ve been itching to get this match going because they couldn’t wait to get the season started,” Kienast said.
▪ Singles: Kaylee Jordan (GSF) def. Rae Inabinett 6-4, 6-1; Courtnee Faulk (GSF) def. Andi Querubin 6-3, 6-4; Sefa Kienast (GSF) def. Emily Graham 4-6, 6-3, 10-4; Hali Hutchinson (GSF) def. Chloe Thompson 7-5, 6-0; Carlyse Major (GSF) def. Lesile Woodberry 6-1, 6-2.
▪ Doubles: Jordan/Faulk (GSF) def. Inabinett/Querubin 8-6; Julian Inabinett/Lonesha Bethea (M) def. Emmy Kienast/Summer Thurman (GSF) 8-6.
▪ Records: Marion 0-1, Green Sea Floyds 1-0.
High school girls tennis
▪ (At) Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach 8, Florence Christian 1 | The Saints cruised to a victory.
▪ Singles: Zoe Cauthen (FC) def. Tatiana Harrellson 6-2, 6-4; Chloe Parker (CAMB) def. Ashlyn Wood 6-1, 6-0; Grace Houghton (CAMB) def. Kamari Hudson 6-0, 6-1; Ashley Bass (CAMB) def. Kiai Thompson 6-2, 6-1; Sam Fanning (CAMB) def. Olivia Edwards 6-0, 6-0; Greer Houghton (CAMB) def. Haley Powell 6-2, 6-0.
▪ Doubles: Harrellson/Grace Houghton (CAMB) def. Cauthen/Edwards 8-4; Parker/Fanning (CAMB) def. Thompson/Hudson 8-2; Bass/Greer Houghton (CAMB) def. Wood/Powell 8-5.
▪ (At) Conway 6, Aynor 1 | The Tigers cruised in their season opener.
▪ Singles: Victoria Smith (C) def. Gentry Johnson 6-1, 6-3; Heleana Toth (A) def. Hailey Cassidy 4-6, 6-3, 10-6; Jessie Miles (C) def. Shelley Baker 7-6, 6-7, 10-5; Tori Worley (C) def. Sarah-Grace Evans 6-2, 4-6, 10-5; Julia Hagerud (C) def. Rebekah Altman 6-4, 6-3.
▪ Doubles: Smith/Cassidy (C) def. Johnston/Toth 9-8 (7-2); Ali Thompson/Maggie Gore (C) def. Rilee Rabon/Chelsey Rabon 6-0, 6-2.
▪ Records: Aynor 1-1, Conway 1-0.
This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 10:12 PM with the headline "Tuesday’s area sports briefs: Green Sea Floyds girls tennis wins opener."