Blacksburg High is renown for having strong tennis teams, and Monday the Lord Botetourt teams felt their wrath. The Bruins swept the LB teams with the boys falling in Blacksburg, 8-1, and girls losing at Hollins University, 9-0.
Botetourt’s number one singles player, Ethan Steryous, won the only point for the boys’ team. He beat Blacksburg’s top player, Reed Marsden, 8-4.
“I was really proud of Ethan for winning,” said LB coach Tim Howard. “He served very well, which helped open up the court for him on the next ball. He also rallied consistently and didn’t go for too much too early. When it was right, he went for it.”
In the other five singles matches LB won just one point, Noah McCarren at number five, while the other four lost 8-0. Steryous and Davis Kidd lost 8-3 at first doubles but the Bruins took the other two, both 8-0.
Photo by Brian Hoffman
“They were a deep team,” said Howard. “Blacksburg has a great tennis program, about 20 kids on their roster. You can tell they are very enthusiastic about the sport. I saw them playing in the parking lot while the match was going on.
“They were also really good sports and I think showed our team members what the next tennis is all about, while being respectful. Lastly I just want to say that their team is very well coached and Blacksburg is lucky to have David Connor. I have a lot of respect for him and his knowledge of the game. What a great program.”
The girls played at home with much the same result. The Blacksburg girls won all six singles matches by 8-1 scores. The doubles matches were more competitive but the Bruins came out on top in all three.
“Blacksburg was able to put away points and games with apparent ease, leaving us to spend the next week preparing for an improved effort as we head up to Blacksburg for a second match on their home courts,” said LB coach Denny McCarthy.
The LB boys were scheduled to host Magna Vista on Tuesday of this week while the girls will be back on the courts Tuesday of next week to meet William Byrd in Vinton. Then, on April 9, both teams will play Blacksburg again, this time with the girls in Blacksburg and the boys at Hollins University.
