By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
East Rowan’s girls tennis team faced Statesville at a neutral site Tuesday, and the result gives the Mustangs another home match.
Playing at West Rowan, East won 5-2 against Statesville in an NPC tiebreaker to determine the league’s No. 1 playoff seed.
Statesville earned a 6-3 victory over East in August, and the Mustangs prevailed 5-4in the rematch on Sept. 24. Both teams went 11-1 in the NPC.
“They did great and didn’t want it to be a fluke that we won the last time,” East coach Laurie Wyrick said in a telephone interview. “They made it real. They went out and played real well.”
The NPC’s No. 2 seed must travel to the South Piedmont’s top seed for the first round of the dual-team playoffs.
East (14-2) will play host to a wild-card entry.
“It’s huge to be able to play at home again,” Wyrick said. “I’m glad for my seniors.”
The Mustangs led 4-2 at the conclusion of singles and clinched the team victory when Katie Cassady-Brett Kesler wrapped up an 8-3 win against Addie McElwee-Jayden Frank at No. 3 doubles.
Cassady-Kesler also provided the decisive victory in the 5-4 decision with the Greyhounds.
“I’m very proud of them, and this is good for them,” Wyrick said.
East’s singles wins came from Devan Corpening (6-3, 6-4 against Azul Zapata at No. 2), Megan Bullins (6-1, 6-3 against Laurie Claire Davidson at No. 3), Cassady (6-1, 6-0 against McElwee at No. 5) and Hannah Pressley (6-3, 7-5 against Frank at No. 6).
Statesville’s Ali Boggs won 6-1, 6-1 against Brittany Honeycutt at No. 1, and Claire Balatow was a 6-2, 6-3 winner against Kayela Wilson at No. 4.
Corpening, who trailed 4-3 in the second set, and Cassady improved to 13-0 in NPC singles matches.