By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
GRANITE QUARRY ó A large banner honoring Erwin’s tennis team for another unbeaten season hangs from a fence outside the middle school’s courts.
The sign didn’t bother East Rowan, which shares the facility with Erwin and continues to show it feels at home there.
Brittany Honeycutt, Megan Bullins, Kayela Wilson, Katie Cassady and Hannah Pressley claimed singles victories to give East a 5-0 win against Northwest Cabarrus in the first round of the 3A dual-team playoffs Tuesday.
The Mustangs (15-2) earned a home match by beating Statesville in an NPC tiebreaker that decided the league’s top seed, and they will play host to either Marvin Ridge or Mount Pleasant in second-round action next week.
“Staying right here for everybody, it’s really big,” East coach Laurie Wyrick said. “Erwin just went undefeated for the third year in a row, and I’m excited to still be playing on our courts. We’re very comfortable at home.”
Wyrick is aware of the challenge that likely awaits with Marvin Ridge, the ninth-ranked team in 3A.
The NPC has seeding priority over the Southern Carolina Conference, so East would get at least one more chance to compete at Erwin.
Honeycutt (facing top-seeded Kelle Marburger) and Bullins (playing third-seeded Caroline Blackman) posted 6-3, 6-1 victories Tuesday. Pressley won 6-0, 6-0 against Jessica Corn at No. 6, and Wilson was almost as dominant in a 6-0, 6-1 win over fourth-seeded Alyssa D’Addezio. Cassady was a 6-1, 6-1 winner against Janey Thomas at No. 5.
East’s Devan Corpening trailed Haley Catchpole at No. 2 when the Mustangs clinched the team victory.
“Everybody played very well,” Wyrick said. “I’m just looking forward to another round.”