The Mathews High School girls’ tennis team is off to a great start defeating AAA Gloucester by a 7-2 margin and Northern Neck foe Essex, 9-0.

In last Thursday’s match with Gloucester, top-seeded Devil Aly Collins took a loss to a tough Christine Riddett, 8-1. At number two, Amy Collins played well and won, 8-3, against Olivia Edwards. Kasey Lynn Lyerly, playing three, easily won against Kelsey Lineberry, 8-1. At four, Mallory Hurst defeated Forrest Eversole, 8-2. Lamar Saunders played six and won 8-0 over Katie Masiak. Sixth-seed Leanne Moughon also defeated her opponent Rebecca Bish, 8-0.

In doubles, the number-one team of Amy and Aly Collins, was handed a tough loss by Gloucester’s Riddett and Edwards, 7-9. Hurst and Mercedes Wells teamed up to give Mathews an 8-1 win over Masiak and Lineberry. Number three, Lyerly and Moughon won, 8-2, against Eversole and Bush. In exhibition matches Saunders won, 8-1, Elizabeth Ransone won, 8-0, and Kate vanEmmerik won, 8-2....