Pioneers hold off Newton-Conover
From staff reports

Watauga took a lead on Newton-Conover in singles, and then held on to win one doubles match and claimed a 5-4 victory Wednesday at the Carroll Complex.

Watauga’s top four seeded singles players all notched victories, but none of them came easily. At No. 1 singles, Steve Lake needed a tie-breaking set to beat Won Lak Choi 6-7, 7-6, 1-0. Michael Smith, at No. 2 singles, and No. 3 seeded Kevin Ashline both needed tie-breaking sets to win their matches.

Smith beat Will Huggins 6-3, 4-6, 1-0, while Ashline beat Han Lak Choi 6-4, 3-6, 1-0.

“Today was another great match against a very good Newton-Conover team,” Watauga coach Scott Taylor said. “Our guys really stepped up and pulled out the match. Steve Lake fought hard and pulled out a tough one in a third set breaker and Michael Smith also pulled out a third-set breaker.”

But winning a key doubles match landed Watauga its victory. Ashline teamed with Brian Geldmeier, a 6-1, 6-3 winner at No. 3 singles over Austin Adams, and beat Adams and Huggins 10-7 at No. 2 doubles.

Watauga improved to 14-2 overall.

“Brian Geldmeier continued his undefeated streak winning in straight sets,” Taylor said. “We are really proud of Kevin Ashline, who really stepped up and won a huge match in singles, and Ashline and Geldmeier won at number two doubles to clinch the match.”

Watauga 5 Newton-Conover 4
Singles
Steve Lake (W) d. Won Lak Choi, 6-7 7-6 1-0
Michael Smith (W) d. Will Huggins, 6-3 4-6 1-0
Kevin Ashline (W) d. Han Lak Choi, 6-4 3-6 1-0
Brian Geldmeier (W) d. Austin Adams, 6-1 6-3
John Reid (NC) d. Davis Roberts, 6-4 7-6
Ryan Lampe (NC) d. Preston Stigall, 6-2 6-2
Doubles
Choi/Choi(NC) d. Lake/Smith 10-8
Ashline/Geldmeier d. Huggins/Adams 10-7
Lampe/Diliion Cervantez d. Roberts/ Stigall 10-2