LONDON — After capturing their 15th regional championship in a row last week, the Corbin Lady Redhound tennis team made it a clean sweep during the 13th Region Individual Singles and Doubles Tournaments on Tuesday.
Seventh grader Bella Lopez captured the girls’ singles championship after receiving the tournament’s top seed.
She received a bye in the first round before winning 6-0, 6-0 over OBI in the second round and then again 6-0, 6-0 over Clay County in the quarterfinals.
Lopez went on to win 6-0, 6-0 over Barbourville’s Sarah Smith, who was the No. 4 seed, in semifinal action. She then defeated Bell County’s Winkler in the finals 6-1, 6-0 to win her first regional singles championship.
“Bella Lopez has been a sensational stand out from day one on the team in her first year as a seventh grader,” Corbin coach Chris Jones said. “She has dominated the competition and continued to grow as a player, now ranked number one in the state for girls 14 and under. You truly forget just how young she is when you watch her play and it’s pretty special.”
Corbin’s No. 1 doubles team of Lindsay Jones and Katie Morton were the number 1 seed in the doubles tournament and received a bye in the first round and then a walkover due to illness in the second round.
The pair defeated Barbourville 6-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinals before knocking out the 4-seed North Laurel 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals.
Jones/Morton then went on to defeat their Corbin teammates, Olivia McArthur and Riley Lewis, 6-1, 6-1 in the championship.
The win turned out to be the fourth consecutive region championship for both girls (four for Morton in doubles and three singles and one doubles for Jones).
Jones was also awarded the female sportsmanship award as voted on by region coaches.
“Lindsay Jones and Katie Morton finally got to play doubles together on the high school team this year after playing doubles together in other tournaments since they were about six-years old and it has truly been fun to watch,” Jones said. “They both captured a fourth consecutive region title this year and are looking forward to a pretty high seed in the state tournament next week.”
MaryAlice McVey was the 5-seed in the singles tournament and received a bye in the first round. She then won 6-0, 6-2 over Middlesboro in the second round before losing 1-6, 1-6 in the quarterfinals to Bell County’s Emma Winkler who was the 2-seed in the tournament.
“MaryAlice McVey played on her first region team this year and made it all the way to the quarterfinals,” Jones said. “I’m so happy that she will be continuing her tennis career at my alma mater next year, Asbury University.”
Corbin’s No. 2 doubles team of Olivia McArthur and Riley Lewis were the 2-seed in the doubles tournament and received a bye the first round before winning over Knox County 6-1, 6-1 in the second round. They beat Clay County in the quarterfinals 6-0, 6-0 before knocking out the 3 seed from North Laurel in the semifinals 6-4, 6-2. The pair then fell in the finals to teammates and No. 1 seeded Lindsay Jones and Katie Morton 1-6, 1-6.
“Olivia McArthur and Riley Lewis played doubles together this year for the first time and managed to back up their No. 2 seed with a runner-up finish,” Jones said. “Olivia really brought the experience of being a doubles champion just last year while Riley, in just her second year, really developed into a solid doubles player.”
Jones also credited the success of the team to his assistant coaches, who played a big role throughout the season.
“None of this would be possible without my wife and assistant coach, Tara,” he admitted. “We were also blessed this year to have former Corbin and University of the Cumberlands tennis player, Grant Morton, as well as Renzo Lopez as an assistant coaches. We also have a special group of parents that go above and beyond to support these girls in all their tennis. It’s definitely a fun group to coach.”
