VALDOSTA —
Norcross’ tennis teams won the Viking Invitational on Saturday.
Norcross defeated host Lowndes 3-2 in the girls’ championship match and 4-1 in the boys final, and headed back to northeast metro Atlanta with two first place trophies.
“(Norcross is) solid all the way down the lineup. They’re a typical final four team,” Lowndes head coach Heath Phelps said. “We’re fortunate that they came down this year and played.”
In the girls’ final, Lowndes won both doubles matches, but Norcross took all three singles matches.
Lori Taylor and Laina Taylor won the No. 1 doubles match 6-4, 6-2, while Haley Tubbs and Maggie Wisenbaker won the No. 2 doubles match 7-6, 3-6, 6-4.
“I was real pleased with my doubles teams against Norcross. We swept doubles,” Phelps said. “They played real well. ... The girls all played pretty well.”
In the boys’ championship match, Lowndes’ Trent Parker and Dylan Farmer won 6-3, 6-4 in the No. 1 doubles match, but that was the only match the Vikings were able to win.
“We’re young on the boys’ side, so it’s a great experience for the guys’ teams,” Phelps said. “The guys loved it. They really did. They loved the challenge of playing Norcross.”
While it would have been nice to win the tournament, Phelps was pleased with the way his teams played this weekend.
“In the finals, boys and girls played well,” he said. “The girls team had a shot against Norcross. ... This is the kind of team that we would play every day if we could. It’s a good experience for both sides to see a team like that.
“Playing Norcross, that’s something we don’t usually see. The kids were all excited to play them.”
Lowndes’ boys reached the finals with a 4-1 semifinal win over Colquitt County. Samuel Price won 6-1, 7-6 in the No. 1 singles match. John Fuller won 6-1, 7-6 in the No. 2 singles match. In doubles, Trent Parker and Dylan Farmer won 7-6, 6-3, while Josh Fricker and Zack Ridge won 6-3, 6-3.
Norcross’ boys reached the finals with a 4-1 victory over Bleckley County in the semifinals on Saturday morning.
Bleckley finished third in the boys’ tournament, defeating Colquitt County 4-1 in the consolation final. Tift County finished fifth, Bainbridge was sixth, Thomas County Central was seventh and Wayne County finished eighth.
In their semifinal match, Lowndes’ girls beat Colquitt 4-1. Taylor Vinge won the No. 1 singles match 6-0, 6-3, Alden Minick won the No. 2 singles match 6-2, 6-2 and Emily Singletary won the No. 3 singles match 6-0, 6-0. Lori and Laina Taylor won their doubles match 6-2, 6-2.
The Norcross girls blanked Bleckley 5-0 in their semifinal match.
Colquitt’s girls defeated Bleckley 4-1 in the consolation final to take third place. Tift finished fifth, Bainbridge was sixth, Thomas County Central took seventh and Wayne was eighth.
The boys’ tournament was held at Valdosta State’s tennis courts, while the girls’ tournament took place at the Harry B. Anderson Tennis Center at McKey Park.
Lowndes will host Valdosta on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Thomas County Central on Wednesday at 4 p.m., then will travel to Brunswick on Friday.
Local Sports
Related Photos
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Lowndes senior Lori Taylor hits a return shot during the Vikings’ second round match against rival Colquitt County on Saturday in the Viking Invitational at McKey Park in Valdosta. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
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Lowndes’ Ben Burkhalter hits a back-handed shot during his match against Colquitt County Saturday at Valdosta State University. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
Discussion
Norcross wins LHS tennis tournament
Lowndes teams finish second in Viking Invitational
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