Ava Darnell picked up a pair of singles victories including straight 6-0, 6-0 wins in East Wilkes’ win against Starmount on Tuesday afternoon. (Zach Colburn photo)
BOONVILLE — After a slow start to the fall season, the East Wilkes girl’s tennis team is starting to find its footing.
The Lady Cardinals knocked off Starmount, 9-0, on Tuesday afternoon to run their winning streak to five matches.
East Wilkes, which saw five of its top six win matches in straight 6-0 sets, has also improved to 3-1 in Northwest 1A Conference play and 6-2 overall.
Ava Darnell (No. 1), Savannah Sparks (No. 2), Hallie Younger (No. 3), Emily Spicer (No. 4) and Valerie Schubart (No. 6) were 6-0, 6-0 winners in singles matches.
Salem Sparks was also victorious at No. 5 singles when she defeated Starmount’s Addi Pilcher 6-1, 6-1.
Darnell and Savannah Sparks teamed up to earn an 8-1 win in No. 1 doubles, against the Lady Rams’ Keely Martin and Brenna Bowman.
Spicer also claimed victory in No. 3 doubles when the senior teamed up with Kali Cook to best Mattie Tavano and Pilcher.
Starmount, which dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the league, steps out of conference play on Thursday when it travels to Yadkin County rival Forbush. The Lady Rams resume their conference schedule next Tuesday against North Stokes.
East Wilkes will host conference-leading Mount Airy on Thursday before traveling to Elkin on Tuesday. The Lady Granite Bears bested the Lady Cardinals, 8-1, back on Aug. 23.
Lady Rams upend Statesville
Starmount broke into the win column for the first time this fall with an 8-1 win at Statesville on Sept. 6.
Martin won a big match at No. 1 singles after falling behind early as she dropped a 7-5 first set. The sophomore bounced back with a 7-5 win in the second set and then claimed the tiebreaker, 10-8.
Bowman, Tavano, Pilcher and Abby Moxley were also victorious in singles action.
East Wilkes 9, Starmount 0
Singles
Ava Darnell (EW) d. Abby Moxley 6-0, 6-0
Savannah Sparks (EW) d. Keely Martin 6-0, 6-0
Hallie Younger (EW) d. Brenna Bowman 6-0, 6-0
Emily Spicer (EW) d. Mattie Tavano 6-0, 6-0
Salem Sparks (EW) d. Addi Pilcher 6-1, 6-1
Valerie Schubart (EW) d. Isabel Ferreria 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
Darnell/Savannah Sparks (EW) d. Martin/Bowman 8-1
Younger/Salem Sparks (EW) d. Moxley/Kelsey Dowell 8-0
Spicer/Kali Cook (EW) d. Tavano/Pilcher 8-2
East Wilkes 9, Avery County 0
Singles
Ava Darnell (EW) d. Emily Atkins 6-0, 6-1
Savannah Sparks (EW) d. Mara Ward 6-1, 6-1
Hallie Younger (EW) d. Grace Andrews 6-0, 6-1
Emily Spicer (EW) d. Michelle Hamby 6-0, 6-0
Salem Sparks (EW) d. Eden Kitchin 6-0, 6-2
Valerie Schubart (EW) d. Anaya Jackson 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
#1 Darnell/Savannah Sparks (EW) d. Atkins/Ward 8-0
#2 Younger/Spicer (EW) d. Andrews/Hamby 8-0
#3 Kali Cook/Kelsea Absher (EW) d. Kitchin/Skyla Ervin 8-0
Elkin 9, Alleghany 0
Singles
Julie Cortez (ELK) d. Maci Whitaker 6-1, 6-1
Ella Kleinheksel (ELK) d. Sarah Darnell 6-1, 6-1
Kendall Eads (ELK) d. Alexandra Vestal 6-2. 6-2
Alice Gwyn (ELK) d. Jackson Thompson 6-1, Retired
Tania Lopez (Sr.) d. Sadye Klein 6-2, 6-1
Adamari Morales (ELK) d. Olivia Bartlett 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
Julie Cortez/Ella Kleinheksel (ELK) d. Maci Whitaker/Sarah Darnell 8-2
Alice Gwyn/Tania Lopez (ELK) d. Alexandra Vestal/Sadye Klein 8-2
Adamari Morales/Julissa Pineda (ELK)d. Olivia Bartlett/Hayden Gregg 8-0
Record: Elkin, 4-2 (3-1 NW 1A)