BROWNSTOWN

With a young core group, the Brownstown Central girls tennis team needed a victory to get their season back on track.

The Braves, who start four freshmen on varsity, got out of their three-game losing streak in sweeping fashion.

Brownstown Central bageled Mid-Southern Conference foe Austin, 5-0, in balmy conditions on Thursday at home.

“We needed it,” Braves coach Erik Stangland said. “We have freshmen playing a lot of positions right now. There’s so much competition just among the singles. The girls hung in there and are constantly getting better — especially with their form. It will give them a confidence boost.”

Freshman Carly Brown had little trouble at No. 2 singles, defeating the Eagles’ Brooklyn Blaglock 6-1, 6-0.

At no. 3 singles, Braves freshman Carly Brown picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win.

The Braves No. 1 doubles team of Rachel Adkins and Olivia Hackman, both freshmen, defeated Skyler Coomer and Macy Baker 6-4, 6-1.

After a long first set, Adkins and Hackman buckled-in from close range to secure their match.

“All they did was continue to go to the net,” Stangland said. “The net person was winning more points. We’re still working at it. They’re both singles players that are playing doubles for the first time ever.”

The newly formed No. 2 doubles duo of junior Sydney Cockerham and sophomore Claudia Sibrel earned another Braves point, as they bested Kailey Fugate and Lilly Humphrey 6-0, 6-1.

Braves junior Laken Reynolds outlasted Jalen Coomer 7-5, 6-4 in the longest match of the evening at No. 1 singles.

“(Reynolds) has struggled the whole beginning of the season, so for her to get this win, hopefully it’s a nice confidence boost,” Stangland said. “We have another match on Saturday, so she can get another one in to get ready for next week. We have four matches next week, including a tournament.

The Braves (1-3, 1-2 MSC) will play a makeup match with Salem on Saturday morning.