SALISBURY — Lexington was the last Central Carolina Conference team to defeat Salisbury in girls tennis.
Everyone else has simply had an off decade when it comes to beating the Hornets, winners of five-straight dual team state 2A titles.
Salisbury tied its school-record streak of conference wins at 126 with a 9-0 win against the Yellow Jackets on its home court.
Salisbury hasn’t lost a CCC match since Sept. 4, 2002. Some current team members weren’t even in school yet, including sophomore Kayla Honeycutt, who would have been four at the time.
“We’re very lucky to have girls that train in-season and off-season,” said Honeycutt after winning her No. 1 singles match. “It’s good to have a strong group and we all are close friends.”
Lexington, who topped Salisbury back in 2002, encountered no such luck Monday. It was business as usual for the Hornets (11-1, 6-0) who made their standard march through singles play.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Salisbury coach Scott Maddox said. “That’s amazing, I don’t care what you’re playing.”
From 1989 to 2002, Salisbury won 125 straight conference bouts before Lexington beat them 5-4 in 2002 at Bingham Tennis Center. Salisbury has reached the state final eight straight times.
The Hornets have dropped two conference matches in 24 years. The previous league loss was to Sun Valley on Sept. 20, 1989 when Salisbury resided in the 3A South Piedmont Conference.
“It’s been good one through six,” said Anna Flynn, a 6-1, 6-2 winner at No. 2 singles. “That’s how we’ve been strong all those years.”
Thursday the Hornets travel to Lake Norman and next Monday, they’ll try to break their record at West Davidson. Flynn is unbeaten in singles play and Salisbury hasn’t lost a doubles match.
Senior and regular No. 1 singles player Alexandra Drye sat out singles play with a nagging arm injury that’s kept her off the court for a week. Drye did join fellow senior Madeline Hoskins for doubles play in a 8-2 win. Honeycutt filled in for a 6-1. 6-2 win agains Emerson Hayes.
Bill Lee, Chris Myers and first-year coach Maddox have been coaches through the streak, which has spanned over a decade.
“I think it’ll mean more to them as time goes on,” Maddox said. “Anytime you can be part of a record in anything, it’s special. I’m toward the end of my coaching career and can appreciate any moment.”
Madeline Hoskins, Kathyrn Rusher, Grace Steinman and Kathleen Movery were singles winners for the Hornets. Hoskins/Drye, Flynn/Honeycutt and Rusher/Grace Steinman teamed up for doubles wins.