The Mathews High School tennis team earned two more victories against AA opponents last week with wins over Peninsula foes Grafton and Bruton.

On Tuesday, March 22, the Lady Devils traveled to Grafton, beating the Clippers, 6-3. Mathews lost its first- and second-seed singles matches, with Morgan Sears and Amy Collins falling by 8-5 and 8-6 margins.

The MHS third seed, Aly Collins, turned things around for the Devils, cruising to an 8-0 victory. Rachel Byrd, the Devils’ #4 seed, battled hard to an 8-4 win. Jamie Ramsey kept the streak going with an 8-2 win. At #6 seed, Kasey Lynn Lyerly took charge and beat her opponent, 8-2.

In doubles play, the top-seeded Collins twins played hard but had to retire due to Aly’s shoulder injury. Coach LaDonna Crain made the decision to pull the girls off the court to reduce the risk of further injury when the twins were leading, 7-4. At number-two doubles, Sears and Byrd played a great match to win, 9-7. Mallory Hurst and Ramsey se...