Panther women’s tennis is 5-0 in the Mountain Seven.
After dropping just one out of 36 matches in their first four dual team contests, on Aug. 30 Franklin traveled to Rabun Gap for their first nonconference clash. Despite suffering their first loss in nearly three full regular seasons, the team improved to 5-1 overall in a 9-0 rout of Smoky Mountain.
Two days after routing North Henderson 9-0, Heather Bell’s team took the short drive south of the state line for a contest with the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles. There the Panthers battled their toughest foes of the season so far, winning just three of the contest’s six singles matches. At Nos. 2-4 a trio of seniors triumphed for Franklin, with Abigail Angel winning 10 games to two at #2, Maci Stork winning 10-6 at #3 and Caroline Deal winning 10-3 at #4. At Nos. 5 and 6 juniors Clara Stork and Marlee Barnes played competitive matches, but fell 10-7 and 10-6, respectively.
With both teams tied at three points apiece entering the evening’s doubles portion, the contest’s outcome hinged on its final three matches. At #2 Angel and Deal won a hard-fought match eight games to five, but Maci Stork and senior Kate Phillips fell by the same score at #1. At #3 Barnes and Clara Stork played the most exciting match of Franklin’s young season, but fell by the narrowest of margins in a 9-8 (10-8) tiebreak. The razor-thin win gave Rabun Gap their all-important fifth victory of the day, handing Franklin their first regular-season loss since 2021.
After playing their third match in five days at Rabun Gap, the Panthers had a much easier week of Sept. 2, with only a trip to Smoky Mountain on the docket Sept. 4. There Franklin’s top six players won their singles matches in straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-0 rout by Maci Stork at #3. With the exception of Deal at #4 (6-4, 6-3), no Panther dropped more than three total games to their Mustang opponent.
Despite the contest’s outcome having already been decided, both teams agreed to play the doubles portion to give players more time on the court. At #1 Phillips and Maci Stork cruised to an easy 8-1 win, closely mirroring Angel and Deal’s 8-2 victory at #2. At #3 Barnes and Clara Stork won 8-4 to complete the sweep.
Having improved to 5-0 in the Mountain Seven, Franklin turned their attention to their toughest conference test yet, hosting West Henderson at the Macon County Rec Park after press time Sept. 9. The Panthers and Falcons have finished first and second in each of the past three years, with Franklin claiming the last two titles after West won in 2021. The rivals’ second meeting that year had been Franklin’s last regular-season loss, prior to last week’s trip to Rabun Gap. The Falcons entered Monday’s match at 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference.