Published Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Prep Tennis: Northgate, Newnan split on court

From Staff Reports

sports@newnan.com

Northgate and Newnan tennis teams split a non-region match Tuesday, each in convincing fashion.

In boys action, Northgate won 5-0, while the Newnan girls also won 5-0.

The Vikings dropped just one set while sweeping three singles victories.

Both matches had their share of marathons.

Among boys play, Northgate’s C.J. Evans and Newnan’s Landon Goolsby battled for three sets,and played for over two hours at No. 2 singles. Finally after dropping the first set, Evans was able to pull out the match, winning 6-7, (2-7), 7-6 (7-5) and 10-6 in the tie breaker despite suffering cramps in his hands.

Another match that lasted over two hours saw Newnan’s No. 1 doubles team of Lollie Davis and Ansley Knight hold off Northgate siblings Amy and Mary Salyards 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 10-8.

It was the first time this year the Lady Viking sisters have played together.

In other action among boys, Northgate’s Hayden Victer held off Cougar William Ballou (6-3, 6-3) at No. 1 singles. Larry Sloan added a 6-1, 6-4 victory at the No. 3 position over Newnan’s Mikey Miller.

Northgate’s doubles teams also swept. Teammates Cole Chenowith and Derek Kinsch beat Stewart Rand and Will Vineyard 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in No. 1 doubles match that went to a tiebreaker in the second set.

The Vikings’ Austin Horvat and Bharath Shankar beat Sam Thomas and Bennett Souter (6-3, 6-3).

(To view photos from the matches, please visit http://photos.times-herald.com/mycapture and click on Sports for the Photo Gallery.)

The Lady Cougars, meanwhile, didn’t lose a set in singles action against the Lady Vikings.

Paced by siblings Gray and Carly Griffies, the Lady Cougars won at No.1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.

Gray Griffies defeated Northgate’s Danielle Rankin (7-5, 6-3), while Carly Griffies beat Lauren Handley (6-3, 6-2).

Caroline Davis also won her match at No. 3 singles for the Lady Cougars. Davis took a straight-sets match against Hayley Hasberger (6-3, 6-1).

Newnan's Abbie Gordon and Emma Fuchs defeated Laura Bowen and Lauren Schexnayder 6-0, 6-2.

Newnan partners Emily Ferguson and Lindley Hudson also won a challenge match in girls play.

Jason Vervaldi and a doubles team of Dalton Ayers and Kenyan Woods won challenge matches for the Cougars.