03/28/2024
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west-bladen-doubles-team-advances-to-state-tennis-tourneyGOLDSBORO – West Bladen’s doubles team of Alanna Ludlum and Amber Long finished fourth in the Class 2A Mid-East Regionals Saturday and qualified to compete in next week’s NCHSAA Class 2A State Women’s Tennis Tournament. 
 
According to Coach Jeff Atkinson this is the first time in school history that a women’s tennis player(s) has qualified for the state tournament. “These girls are having a great season and I think it will be one they can always look back on and remember,” said Coach Atkinson.
 
Ludlum and Long were seeded third in the Mid-East Regional and rolled past the St. Pauls team of Nayeli Estrada and Brianda Barrera in straight sets in Friday’s opening round. Saturday morning the West Bladen team swept the Clinton team of Blake Daniel and Haila Gilpin in straight sets. It was the fourth victory of the season for Long and Ludlum over Daniel and Gilpin.  
 
In the semi-final round, Long and Ludlum dropped a hard-fought 3-set battle to the Bartlett Yancey team of Cameron Brown and Carrie Brown. Ludlum and Long lost the first set in a tie-breaker, won the second set 6-4 but fell behind 3-0 in the third set. West Bladen won the next 2 games, but Bartlett Yancey took the next 4 games and the match.
We had our chances in that one but we were not able to get those breaks in the first set,” said Atkinson. “Alanna and Amber played very well and were in the match the entire time. A break here and there and it could have a different outcome. Very pleased with there play and effort.”
 
After a short break, the Lady Knights dropped the consolation match to the top-seeded Jordan-Matthews team of Sarah Morse and Marshall Phillips. “I could tell that we were exhausted and tired from having to play 3 sets just before and facing a well rested Jordan Matthews team who were runner-ups last year,” said Coach Atkinson.
 
The draw was not kind to West Bladen’s singles players Conner Brisson and Savannah Lee. Brisson lost in the opening round to the top seed and defending regional champion Rachel Rice from the Durham School of the Arts Friday. Rice went on to win this year’s regional championship again.
 
Lee lost in the opening round Friday to the No. 3 seed, Hannah Watlington from Bartlett Yancey, who finished fourth in last year’s regionals. 
 
“This region to tough to compete in and then we got a bad draw, but I thought it was good experience for Conner and Savannah,” said Atkinson. “Both have had outstandings seasons this year going undefeated in regular season play.”
 
Doubles First Round
Alanna Ludlum/Amber Long (WB) def. Nayeli Estrada/Brianda Barrera (SP)  6-1, 6-1
Quarterfinals
Ludlum/Long (WB) def. Blake Daniel and Haila Gilpin (C)   6-1, 6-1
Semi-finals
Cameron Brown/Carrie Brown (BY) def. Ludlum/Long (WB)  7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-2
Consolation Match
Sarah Morse/Marshall Phillips (JM) def. Ludlum/Long (WB)   6-0, 6-0
Singles First Round
Rachel Rice (DSA) def Conner Brisson (WB)  6-0, 6-0
Hannah Watlington (BY) def. Savannah Lee (WB) 6-0, 6-0
Pictured (Left-to-right) are singles players Conner Brisson and Savannah Lee and the doubles team of Amber King and Alanna Ludlum. 

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