Only one Lion survives district tennis tournament first round
April 9, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Greenville’s Lions play in one of the toughest tennis districts in Class 4A.

Just how tough is it?

Only one GHS player survived the first round on Thursday at the District 10-4A tournament.

Greenville senior Skylar Pruner won his opening match, 7-6, 6-0 over Kiefer Gilbert of Royse City.

But Pruner ran into tougher competition in the quarterfinals, falling to No. 2 seed Kyle Plum of Richardson Pearce by a 6-1, 6-0 count. Plum took control of the match early, keeping Pruner on the run with a variety of strokes, including some drop shots and lobs to go with baseline winners.

Bailey Phillips and Katelynn Twilley, who are also members of the Lady Lions’ soccer team, drew a tough draw for their opening-round doubles match, falling 6-0, 6-0 to the top-seeded team of Stainback and Adams from Highland Park.

Cody Horton and Daniel Dennis of Greenville dropped their boys doubles opener to the No. 2 seeded team of Walters and Elwood of Highland Park, 6-0, 6-0.

Connor Mulkey and Colin Doby also lost their boys doubles match, 6-1, 6-3, to a team from R.L. Turner of Carrollton.

Tess Knudson and Olivia Loftin of Greenville lost 6-1, 6-1 to a girls doubles team from Rockwall.

Both of the Lady Lions’ singles players exited in the first round as Courtney Hunnicutt lost to a player from Rockwall-Heath and Rainna Coelho fell to one from Newman Smith of Carrollton.

Highland Park served as host on Thursday for the boys portion of the tournament. Richardson High School held the girls matches.

Greenville’s tennis team will be moving into a new district next season that will include another Class 4A powerhouse: Texas High of Texarkana.

District 10-4A tennis tournament

Thursday

Highland Park

Richardson High School

BOYS SINGLES

First round -- Skylar Pruner, Greenville, def. Kiefer Gilbert, Royse City, 7-5, 6-0.

Quarterfinals -- Kyle Plum, Richardson Pearce, def. Skylar Pruner, Greenville, 6-1, 6-0.

BOYS DOUBLES

First round -- Shor-Shaw, R.L. Turner, def. Connor Mulkey-Colin Doby, Greenville, 6-1, 6-3; Walters-Elwood, Highland Park, def. Cody Horton-Daniel Dennis, Greenville, 6-0, 6-0.

GIRLS SINGLES

First round -- Housewright, Rockwall-Heath, def. Courtney Hunnicutt, Greenville, 6-0, 6-0; Barron, Newman Smith, def. Rainna Coelho, Greenville, 6-1, 6-0.

GIRLS DOUBLES

First round -- Stainback-Adams, Highland Park, def. Bailey Phillips-Katelynn Twilley, Greenville, 6-0, 6-0; Gardner-Hoang, Rockwall, def. Tess Knudson-Olivia Loftin, Greenville, 6-1, 6-1.