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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Davie’s tennis team delivered another thrilling wild ride against visiting West Forsyth on Sept. 7.

The 5-4 win was rather astonishing because the War Eagles were without their top seed, Karlie Quinn (knee injury). Playing as if it had a point to prove, Davie still managed to stay unbeaten and hand West its first loss.

The War Eagles’ records of 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Central Piedmont Conference are special because of how they struggled the past two seasons. They went 6-9, 3-7 to tie for fourth in 2019. They went 5-7, 3-7 to finish fifth last spring.

“If that doesn’t show you what hard work can do, I don’t know what will,” coach Collin Ferebee said. “I’m so appreciative as a coach. When you beat Reynolds, Reagan and West back to back to back, you’re doing something right.”

Quinn has a 3-1 record. Her absence meant all six singles players had to move up a spot in the lineup.

“That was massive for the girls to step up,” Ferebee said. “I held her out as a precaution for her knee. We’re hoping to hear good things. I didn’t want her to play. Karlie’s health is first and foremost. We’re monitoring it day by day. I’d rather her be healthy for the long term than try to play one match. All the girls had to slide up and they all stepped up.”

Seniors Whitney DeLoach and Abby Fletcher both dropped their first sets. Then they flipped the momentum and ultimately prevailed in tiebreakers. DeLoach, who played No. 3 after playing five or six in her other three matches, won 3-6, 6-4 (15-13) to run her record to 4-0. Fletcher won 4-6, 6-2 (10-6). It was her second match of the year, both wins.

“We were about five points away from losing 5-1 in singles,” Ferebee said. “Whitney had a bad first set. Once again, like she did at Reagan, she flipped that switch. Abby and Whitney were frustrated after playing so badly in the first set. I told them: ‘Both of you win because you don’t give up. No matter how much you’re down, you fight til the end.’ That made the entire difference in the match.”

Cat Rosser punished her No. 6 opponent 6-0, 6-0. Amazingly, the freshman’s record is 5-0 even though she’s not in Davie’s top six when everybody is healthy.

Elliot Newsome/Leslie Newsom won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles, raising their record to 4-0. Despite having not played together all season, Sarah West Marklin/Fletcher nailed down the victory with an 8-5 score at No. 3 doubles.

The Titans stumbled to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CPC.