EAST BLADEN

Head coach: Megan Kirby.

Last year: 10-5, 10-5 Three Rivers Conference.

Top returners: Junior Lily Lin, all-conference last year; junior Carlie West, sophomore Heather Hardin and sophomore Jayden Willington.

Kirby: “We’ll do well if all of our ‘new to tennis’ players that have come out catch on pretty quickly. It’s an adjustment from playing volleyball or softball, with those the sports they are most comfortable with.”

League: Kirby says, “West Bladen and Whiteville I think have the most returning to be the top teams, South Columbus is always good though so they will probably be at the top as well.”

Dates: Three Rivers officials reduced the league schedule, opting out of home-and-away round-robin, to free up nonconference opportunities. East Bladen will host West Bladen in a nonconference match Aug. 29 and visit the Lady Knights on Sept. 19.

WEST BLADEN

Head coach: Billy Bryant (second year, record 16-1).

Last year: 16-1, 16-0 league; Three Rivers Conference champion; lost 2-A first round to Greene Central.

Top returners: Senior Autumn Brisson, 15-2 in singles last year; senior Alyssa Bell, 17-0 in singles last year; Brisson and Bell were Three Rivers Conference tournament champions in doubles; senior Alyssa Smith, 16-1 in singles last year; Bryant says a transfer student should help immediately, there is depth in the junior class and freshmen turnout was significant.

Bryant: “We will do well this year if we stay confident and apply the basic fundamentals that we practice each day. Again, my expectation is another great season, but, some of the other teams may have a say in that.”

League: Bryant says, “Whiteville and South Columbus seem to always be at the top of the conference and I expect no different this year. Each team in the conference has some good returning players. The team I will keep my eye on is East Columbus. They had improved quite a bit last year and have a lot of returning players.”

Dates: Three Rivers officials reduced the league schedule, opting out of home-and-away round-robin, to free up nonconference opportunities. West Bladen will visit East Bladen in a nonconference match Aug. 29 and host the Lady Eagles on Sept. 19. West Bladen took advantage of the change by adding home-and-away dates with Clinton and Purnell Swett, and will host perennial 2-A power Greene Central, the team that ended its perfect season in the playoffs last October.

Megan Kirby
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_EB-Megan-Kirby.jpgMegan Kirby

Billy Bryant
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_Billy-Bryant.jpgBilly Bryant

https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_prep-girls-tennis.jpg

Bladen Journal