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Davie’s tennis team came up just short against visiting Mt. Airy on March 19. While it’s been a frustrating season – Davie is 1-4 in matches that ended 6-3 or 5-4 – but coach Shane Nixon had no complaints after the 5-4 nonconference loss to the Granite Bears.
“We don’t do moral victories in our program,” Nixon said. “If we ever did, today was the day. Mt. Airy is a really good team. They’ll go a long way in the 2-A state playoffs. We had multiple chances to win, and while not converting on those stings, being there against this team shows how far our team has come since the start of the season.”
Grayson Busse wouldn’t be denied at No. 1 singles, winning a 6-4, 1-6, 10-8 slobberknocker. Unfortunately, Davie lost barnburners that were decided by third-set tiebreakers at two and five.
“Grayson played his best tennis,” Nixon said. “That is, for clarity, the best tennis he’s played since he came to Davie. And the guy he played is no joke. He’ll likely be player of the year in Mt. Airy’s conference. I’m so proud of GB.”
The other Davie winner in singles was Luke Cranfill, who romped 6-1, 6-0 to run his record to 6-0 at No. 4.
“The freshman who just doesn’t play like one,” Nixon said. “There are times when he really does still look very much like a freshman, so when he gains some strength, both physical and mental, he’s going to do big things in our league. His start to his career is amazing.”
The War Eagles needed to sweep doubles. They couldn’t quite pull it off.
“We spent a whole week last week working on doubles and won two of three,” Nixon said after Davie slipped to 2-4 overall. “That is good for my soul. It should also be good as we turn and head back down the CPC slate. Some of those 6-3 losses are going to look a little different, I suspect.”
Mt. Airy clinched victory at No. 1 doubles, but Busse/Chris Samet and Brady Carter/Cranfill rolled to 8-3 and 8-1 victories at two and three, respectively.
“Brady is my guy,” Nixon said. “He loses a painful single match after a split, and I go over and ask him how much he’s got in the tank. He says: ‘I want to go right now, coach. Let’s go.’ Coming back and getting the doubles win is huge.
“Chris kind of anchors this freshmen class. He comes in and plays way up the lineup in doubles and is amazing. He and Grayson have become a force.”
Nixon added: “Each (losing player) gave me max effort and I am very proud of how they played. Again, we are not scheduling down anymore. This was a good team we played today. Hats off to Mount Airy. They came to our place and handed us the L.”
Davie 9, Parkland 0
Two days earlier, Davie had a breezy road win over winless Parkland. All the singles scores were 6-0, 6-0. The margins were 8-0 at Nos. 1-2 doubles, and the Mustangs forfeited No. 3 doubles as Davie improved to 2-3 in the CPC.
“We got a chance to get some guys chances to play,” Nixon said “The guys were intentional about using this as a real tune-up. I saw my guys working on things we practiced all last week.”