By Nick Nunn
Staff Writer

The Morgan County High School varsity tennis team began its season last week with matches against Jefferson on Tuesday and against Buford on Thursday. Both the girls’ and boys’ troupes outplayed Jefferson during the season opener, but they fell to Buford later in the week.
“I thought for our first match of the season against Jefferson, we played really well,” said Coach Greg Thompson at the end of the week.
Playing really well may be something of an understatement; the MCHS boys swept Jefferson 5-0 during their matches, while the girls came out ahead 3-2.
“Our three guys singles matches were well played by Caleb [Plumley], Wolf [Busenitz], and Sutton [Trulock],” began Coach Thompson. “There were a couple of games here and there that we shouldn’t have given up, but overall I was very pleased with the outcome.”
Caroline Jones came out ahead in her girls’ singles match, and Alex Ewing and Lily Arienzo won a doubles match for the Dogs.
“Alex and Lily played well against two young players who have a lot of potential for Jefferson,” said Thompson. “It was hard for them to get going because they both like to hit the ball hard and their opponents weren’t putting a lot of pace on the ball.”
The Net Dogs’ matches against Buford didn’t end as well. The girls’ team came away without a win, and the boys only managed one doubles victory.
“We knew coming in that Buford was going to be tough,” said Thompson.
Thompson said that Drew McHugh and Garrett Gardner, the winner of the boys’ doubles match, “battle for every point and have played a lot of tennis together over the last two years.”

“Our other matches were a lot closer than what the scores showed,” continued Thompson. “We were in every match we played today.”
MCHS’ JV tennis team also played Buford when they came to town and, unfortunately, suffered similar losses.

Buford’s JV girls swept Morgan County, but the MCHS boys were able to pull out three close matches. Ben McMichael and Mason Devane won their singles matches 8-7 and 8-6, respectively, while Matt Vill and Corey Hopson won their doubles match 8-7.
The MCMS tennis team began their season last Thursday against Buford.

The middle school boys were swept in six matches with Buford, but the girls came out ahead 4-3. Caroline Rittenhouse and Carley Hennry outdid their Buford counterparts in their singles matches.

The doubles teams of Callie Arienzo and Madison Gasque and Clara Arienzo and Rebecca Lindsey bested their opponents, bringing the MCMS tennis team their first win of the season.
Last Tuesday, the varsity and JV teams played at home against Oconee County, and today the varsity and JV teams travel to North Oconee for a series of matches beginning at 4 p.m.

Next Tuesday, the varsity team plays at home against Franklin County. The JV team will face North Oconee at home next Wednesday at 4:30.  

Printed in the February 28, 2013