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Oxford girls remain unbeaten

Yellow Jackets take four singles matches, win doubles to beat Chelsea

Oxford's Ashleigh Goodwin played in the match of the day, fighting off five total match points before falling in a tiebreaker.

Oxford’s Ashleigh Goodwin played in the match of the day, fighting off five total match points before falling in a tiebreaker.

By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today

OXFORD — The Oxford girls’ tennis team continued its fast start to the season Monday as its took a 6-3 victory over Chelsea at Oxford Lake to extend its record to 5-0.

The spirit of the team may have been captured in one of the singles matches the Yellow Jackets lost. Sophomore Ashleigh Goodwin showed grit and determination as she fell behind 4-1 and 5-2 against Chelsea’s Carley Harris and then battled her way back into the match and capturing the attention of the crowd on hand.

Goodwin fought off four match points and eventually tied it 8-8 to force a seven-point tiebreaker. She was ranging all over the court and pulled ahead 6-2 in the tiebreaker, then ran into some tough luck and fell behind 7-6 and fought off another match point before falling 9-7.

The crowd gave both players a round of applause for simply a great match to watch

Holly Hamlin had a tough match against Chelsea’s Carlen Bazzell as she jumped out to a 5-0 lead only to have it disappear. Hamlin fought off the challenge with some great shots and ended up taking an 8-6 victory.

Oxford’s Danielle Bolton continued her dominance at No. 1 by sweeping past Molly Burchell 8-0. Abbie White won at second singles 8-2 and Brooke Boyles rolled past Emily Williams 8-4 in No. 5. Senior Peyton McGuirk lost a close 8-6 set to Chelsea’s Abby Clark at No. 3.

Bolton-White won at No. 1 doubles 8-6 and Hamlin-Goodwin took the No. 3 doubles match, 8-3. Boyles-McGuirk lost at No. 2 doubles 8-5.

“I don’t want to jinx us but we have been playing really well this year and have not lost,” Jackets coach Kim Bolton said. “The competition was much tougher today and that was good for us. I am proud of the girls effort this year.”

The Jackets return to action Wednesday when they host Pinson Valley at Oxford Lake.

Oxford's Holly Hamlin jumped out to a 5-0 lead in her singles match and eventually won 8-6.

Oxford’s Holly Hamlin jumped out to a 5-0 lead in her singles match and eventually won 8-6.

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