The Bainbridge High School girls’ and boys’ tennis teams split their match with Colquitt County on Monday with the Lady Cats winning 5-0 and the Bearcats losing 2-3.

The Lady Cats were led by No. 1 and 2 singles Sydney Burke and Jade Stacey who won their matches in straight sets. Burke won 6-1, 6-0 and Stacey won 6-3, 6-3.

At No. 3 singles Chloe Powell won the first set 6-2 before dropping the second 2-6. She fought back to win the third set 6-2 to win the match.

Madison Wiggins and Gracie Surratt dropped the first set in No. 2 doubles match 4-6, but battled back to win the next two sets 7-6, 7-5.

The No. 1 doubles team of Bree Powell and Brianna Mills clinched the sweep winning their match in three sets.

“Sydney Burke closed pretty quickly followed by Jade at one and two singles then we just needed one more court,” coach Amy Thomas said. “All three of the other courts stepped. They split sets and all won in the third set. That shows a tremendous amount of determination.”

The Lady Cats have continued to improve after defeating Northview and losing to Cook County last week.

“They are definitely getting in better shape,” Thomas said. “They are growing and they are coming together as a team.  I definitely see some momentum being gained”

The Bearcats came up just short against Colquitt losing 2-3. Mark Loeffler won No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-3.

Hudson Barber and Mathew Walker dropped No. 1 doubles 2-6, 2-6 and Dalton Savage lost No. 3 singles 3-6, 2-6. 

Freshman Cole Buchanan won the No. 2 singles match in three sets.

Colquitt won the No. 2 doubles match over Bainbridge’s Lawson Humphrey and Barrett Jackson 1-6, 1-6.

“I see so much improvement in the boys,” Thomas said. “Mark, he led the team. He finished pretty quickly. His leadership is invaluable. For Cole to be a freshman and split sets and then win in the third set, that is impressive.”

The Bearcats are currently 1-2 on the season, but Thomas said that they have the ability to have a strong season.

“We have so much potential on our boys’ side and if they keep working together I see us continuing to get better and better,” Thomas said. “We might need to make some changes to the lineup, but I think they are steadily improving.”

The teams return to the court on Thursday at 4 p.m. for a home match against Dothan High School.