Franklin’s 3A State Semifinalists are back in action.
Coming off the greatest two-year run in program history, including two trips to the state final four and two 3A West Doubles titles, on the week of Aug. 19 the Panthers began their fall campaign. In Mountain Seven Conference routs of East Henderson and Tuscola, Heather Bell’s team took their first steps toward a third-straight unbeaten season.
On Monday, Aug. 19 the Panthers traveled to East Henderson for their first match of the regular season. In a rematch of two 9-0 Franklin victories last fall, the Panthers took care of business once again, cruising to easy wins in all nine matches. In singles, Kate Phillips (#1), Maci Stork (#3), Caroline Deal (#4) and Marlee Barnes (#6) all shut out their opponents 10-0, while Abigail Angel (#2) won 10-2 and Clara Stork (#5) won 10-1.
In doubles Phillips and Stork took home the #1 match 8-0, while Angel/Deal (#2) and Stork/Barnes (#3) both claimed their matches 8-1.
After dismantling East, two days later the team traveled to Waynesville to face Tuscola, in a rematch of two blowout Panther wins last fall. At #1 singles Phillips and Sierra Sellars rematched last year’s Conference Tournament Final, with Sellars narrowly prevailing once again 6-4, 7-5.
The rest of the Mountaineers’ roster posed much less of a challenge however, as Franklin earned convincing wins in its other five singles matches. At #2 Angel blanked her opponent 6-0, 6-0, while Maci Stork (#3) and Clara Stork (#5) both lost just one game apiece.
In doubles Phillips and Maci Stork took the #1 match 8-3, while Angel/Deal (#2) and Barnes/Clara Stork (#3) shut out their opponents 8-0.
Having lost just one match across their first two dual team contests, the Panthers hosted Pisgah at the Macon County Rec Park after press time Aug. 26.