Friday, 02/26/2010

The Pearl River Lady Wildcats were unable to overcome the Lady Warriors of East Central Community College Monday, February 22, in Poplarville during their season opener.

In their opening match of the 2010 season, the Lady Wildcats started out strong, taking two of the three doubles matches.  At the number two doubles position, former West Marion High School teammates and sophomore team members Alyssa Wolfe of Sandy Hook, Mississippi, and Kristen Barber of Foxworth, Mississippi, defeated Rachel Ramirez and Samantha Elkins of East Central 8-5.  Freshmen team members Emily Leverett of Raymond, Mississippi, and Kenyatta Epps of Yazoo City, Mississippi, paired up for the number three doubles position and defeated East Central's Anna Alexander and Ashley Walker, 8-0.  The number one doubles team of sophomore Kasey King of Purvis, Mississippi, and freshman, Janae Norwood of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, were unable to close out the victory, falling to Elise Gibbs and Abby McMillan 8-4.

In singles action, last year's state singles finalist, Barber was able to get one more point for the Lady Wildcats by defeating East Central's Alexander at the number four position, 6-1, 6-1.  At the number one position, King fell to  Gibbs 6-0, 6-0.  Norwood was defeated by McMillan 6-2, 6-1, at the number two position.  Wolfe lost the number three singles spot, 6-2, 6-4, to Ramirez.  At number five, Leverett fell to Elkins, 6-2, 6-3.  Freshman Brookes McInnis of Brooklyn, Mississippi was defeated at the number six singles position by Walker, 6-0, 6-2.

The East Central Lady Warriors claimed the day with a 6-3 victory.

The match originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 23, with Hinds Community College has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.  The Pearl River Lady Wildcats will be back in action this Saturday in Poplarville when they take on the Holmes Community College Bulldogs at 12:00 p.m.