Heritage tennis teams secure top seeds in 6-AAAA tourney

The Heritage Generals crossed state lines into Tennessee last Monday and moved to 9-1 overall after slipping past a solid Red Bank squad in Chattanooga, 5-4.

Leo Peace won 7-4 in a tiebreaker to pick up a 9-8 win in No. 1 singles. Austin Long won 8-5 at No. 3 singles. Blake Richardson, playing his first-ever singles match, scored an 8-1 victory at No. 5, while Nick Darling won his first singles match, 8-0, at the No. 6 spot.

The Generals built a 4-2 lead headed into doubles, but the Lions won 8-3 at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to tie the match. However, Peace and Davis Kilgo would pull out an 8-3 win to clinch in for the Navyand-Red. Darling and Jay Muhammed also won their match, 8-0.

The Lady Generals breezed through their match, shutting out the Lady Lions, 9-0, while dropping just 10 total games.

In singles, Caroline Horsley won 8-1 in the No. 1 slot, while Emma Lokey blanked her opponent, 8-0. Maleah McAlister claimed an 8-1 win. Kaylee Bright won by an 8-2 count. Anna Grace Skinner earned an 8-0 shutout and Autumn Viars won her match, 8-1.

In doubles, the team of Erin Hulsey and Katelyn Burns picked up an 8-1 victory. Morgan Phillips and Bailey Christol won 8-3, while Horsley and Cadence Burton teamed up to win, 8-1.

Heritage secures top seeds

The Heritage tennis teams wrapped up Region 6-AAAA regular season titles last Tuesday by sweeping Pickens in a pair of matches in Boynton.

The Generals coasted to a 5-0 win. Peace won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Tim Grayson claimed a 6-2, 6-2 victory, while Long won his match, 6-0, 6-3. In doubles, Kilgo and Cooper Terry won 6-2, 6-0, while Blake Richardson and Ethan Bone won by the same score.

Heritage (10-1 overall, 6-0 region) will be the No. 1 seed in the region tournament, which will be held April 10-11 in Dalton. By virtue of being the No. 1 seed, they will get a bye to the region semifinals, which also assures them of a state tournament berth for the ninth consecutive season.

Not to be outdone, the Lady Generals also improved to 10-1 overall and capped a 6-0 region run with a 4-1 victory.

Horsley needed three sets, but won her match 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Lokey won her match 6-4, 6-0, while McAlister earned a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Pickens won at No. 1 doubles as Hulsey and Burns were beaten 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, but Phillips and Christol polished it off with a 6-1, 6-2 win.

The Lady Generals will also be the No. 1 seed in the girls’ region tournament, also held April 10-11 in Dalton. Heritage will receive a bye to the semifinals and has locked up a spot in the state tournament.