S-C Boys Tennis Opens Season With Victory

The weather was nearly perfect and so was the outcome for the Smith-Cotton boys tennis team, which opened its season Monday with a 8-1 win over Knob Noster at Liberty Park.

The Tigers swept the doubles contests, with No. 1 team David Cho and Matthew Tilley topping the Panthers' Jacob Youngblood and Ben Murphy, 8-4, while S-C's Mikhail Husyev and Ryan Hankins won at No. 2 doubles over Josh Rougue and Braden Orndoff, 8-2,

Jared Baker and Jack Geary also posted an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles over Knob Noster's Ryan Day and Brendan Cerda-Garcia.

Orndoff topped Husyev, 9-7, at No. 3 singles for the Panthers' lone match win for the day.

"Our win tonight is a great way to begin the season, but we always strive for ways to improve ourselves," said S-C head coach Rush Walters. "Tonight was a strong start, and I am excited to see what the boys will achieve for the rest of the season."

The Tigers' next match is against Battle on Wednesday afternoon at Liberty Park.

Smith-Cotton senior Ryan Hankins returns a volley during the No. 2 singles match Monday against Knob Noster at Liberty Park. Hankins and teammate Mikhail Husyev won the match, 8-2.