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Alive and well

Maiden advances with win over Brevard

John M Setzler Jr.

Abbey Black of Maiden returns the ball against Brevard’s Julia Van Horn during the third round of the state 2A dual-team tennis playoffs. Maiden defeated Brevard 5-1 and Black won her match 6-1, 6-2.

By Chris Hobbs | Hickory Daily Record

Published: November 4, 2009

MAIDEN - Maiden High girls' tennis head coach Jon Huffman has been so busy of late that he only gets to mow his lawn on Sundays.

The yardwork may have to stay on hold a while longer.

Starting a third-round state 2A dual-team playoff match at Maiden and then moving to Bandys to finish up when darkness came, the Blue Devils won their 18th straight match on Tuesday and a berth in the state semifinals.

Maiden, in the girls' dual-teams for the first time in the format's 20-year history, edged Brevard 5-1 to improve to 20-1.

Sophomore Abbey Black, seniors Megan Moose, Nicky Lo and Erikia Ramseur and junior Cinderella Yang won singles matches for Maiden.

The Blue Devils' victory sets up a Thursday match at state power Salisbury (21-0) at a time to be determined.

Salisbury, last year's state 2A winner, reached its sixth straight semifinal by beating Shelby 7-1 on Tuesday in Salisbury.

Maiden's biggest battle on Tuesday turned out to be trying to beat the sunset. When the teams headed to play on Bandys' lighted courts, Maiden had a 2-0 lead via wins by Black and Yang.

Black jumped to a quick three-game lead en route to beating Julia Van Horn 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles and Yang, at No. 6 singles, beat Allison Walker, 6-1, 6-1.

Having to change locations didn't seem to phase the Blue Devils. Not much does, Huffman said.

"I think I get more nervous than they do," said Huffman, a third-year coach at Maiden whose first team there won two matches.

At Bandys, Moose came up with a key win at No. 3 singles after dropping the first set 6-3 to Katie Honer, battling back for a 7-6, 10-8 victory.

Lo won 6-4, 7-5 over Hunter Hall at No. 4 singles and Ramseur beat Karina Dierolf 6-0, 6-4 at No. 5 singles.

In a matchup of juniors at No. 2 singles, Brevard's Lauren Fuller edged Kaylyn Key 5-7, 7-5, 10-8.
With five singles wins, the Blue Devils didn't need to play doubles.

Once again, they went about their jobs, Huffman said, like … well, jobs.

"We don't overwhelm you with super amazing talent…," Huffman said of his girls. "They just outwork you.

"It's awesome that the kids put that much work and dedication in.

"They just go out and do their jobs and say 'Coach, who is next?'"

A tough foe for sure. In a red-hot six-season run, Salisbury is 129-7 and has won two state 2A titles (2008, 2006), finished second twice (2005, 2007) and lost once in the semifinals.