The Richmond Senior High School girls tennis team continued its historic season Monday evening, accomplishing not one but two program firsts in the same day.
After becoming the first team in school history to host a state playoff match, the Lady Raiders followed it up by earning the program's first-ever home playoff victory, defeating East Forsyth 5-2 in the opening round of the 7A Dual Team Tennis State Playoffs.
Richmond built a commanding 4-2 advantage during singles competition.
Sophomore Molly Covington cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Evolet Estrada, while junior Sydney Barnes defeated Ellie Jones 6-2, 6-2. Junior Erin Drumwright dominated Sophia Gordon 6-1, 6-0, and senior Natalie Richardson added another point for Richmond with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Caitlin Sanotas.
East Forsyth picked up its only two points in singles play. Senior Colbie Covington dropped a hard-fought match to Macey Walters, 4-6, 6-6 (4-7), while Rylee DeCubellis fell to Elise Ham, 5-7, 6-7 (1-7).
Holding a two-point lead entering doubles competition, Richmond needed just one doubles victory to clinch the match. East Forsyth, meanwhile, had to win all three doubles matches to keep its season alive.
The deciding point came quickly in No. 2 doubles, where the team of Molly Covington and Drumwright defeated Estrada and Jones 8-4. The victory secured Richmond's fifth point and officially ended the match.
With the outcome decided, the remaining doubles contests were halted early, allowing East Forsyth to begin its lengthy trip home.
The win sends the Lady Raiders into the second round of the state playoffs, where an even tougher challenge awaits. Richmond will travel to Concord on Wednesday for a matchup against a strong Cox Mill team. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.
