Raiders rout Hoke County in 2nd shutout this week

ROCKINGHAM — Picking up its second win in as many days was the Richmond Senior High School boys tennis team Wednesday.

Finally able to reschedule an early-season postponement with Hoke County High School, the Raiders rolled to their biggest win of the season.

Defeating the Bucks 9-0, its second shutout victory of the week, Richmond also secured four combined shutouts in singles and doubles play.

“This was definitely our most collective team win of the season,” head coach Jessica Covington said. “I’m proud of the guys for starting their matches with aggressive hits and continuing to do that throughout the night.”

The Raiders were afforded a victory by forfeit in the No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles matches due to Hoke County not having enough players.

Three of Richmond’s five singles players registered 8-0 shutout wins — No. 1 junior Jordan Jacobs, No. 4 senior Will Whitley and No. 5 junior Gavin Applewhite.

Jacobs defeated Iber De La Cruz, Whitley secured a victory over Braydon McKoy and Applewhite blanked Phoenix English.

No. 2 junior Matthew Leggett and No. 3 senior Brent Humann each notched 8-1 wins over their respective Hoke County opponents — Nathan Burrow and Abiel Demeza-Soriano.

Doubles play went as smoothly as singles play did for the Raiders. With the match already won, Covington switched up her lineups.

The No. 1 pairing of Jacobs and Whitley defeated De La Cruz and Burrow 8-0, while the No. 2 duo of Humann and freshman Ben Lutz handed Demeza-Soriano and McKoy an 8-4 defeat.

The Raiders (4-3, 4-3 SAC) close out their week at home Thursday against Union Pines. Action will begin at 4 p.m.