Newton Citizen

Rockdale's tennis teams stayed perfect at 3-0 in Region 8-AAAA with Tuesday victories over crosstown rival Salem at the Rockdale Tennis Center.

The boys won 4-1, led by No. 1 singles Patrick Sanders and No. 2 Trey Hull, who each won 6-0, 6-0 over Daniel Adams and Justin Lustenberger, respectively.

Meanwhile, both doubles teams won in straight sets as the No. 1 team of Jason Lauritsen and Anthony Adams won 6-1, 6-2 over Simon Velasquez and Eli Adams and the No. 2 team (Bruce Mitchell and Collin Shamley) beat Mario Heard and Anthony Lewis, 6-0, 6-0. Salem's only win came at No. 3 singles where Michael Worley knocked off Abenet Addisu, 6-2, 6-2.

In girls play, No. 1 singles Summer Walker and No. 3 Ciara Chesser had no trouble with Amulen Wirsiy and Jessica Lustenberger, respectively, each winning 6-0, 6-0. The No. 1 doubles team of Libby and Abby Bradford also won 6-0, 6-0 over Vikita Valle and Michelle Armstrong, while the No. 2 doubles team (Brooke Tryon and Alliyah Byrd) defeated Abby Adams and Annalise Vojnich, 6-3, 6-0. The Salem girls picked up a win at No. 2 singles where Amber Cannon knocked off Bianca Brown, 6-2, 6-1.

"We feel pretty good," Rockdale coach Stephen Sansing said. "Both teams are 3-0 in the region right now; we're kind of getting some matches up under us ... we just got to take care of the little things. I think we're ready (and) I think we're a better team than we were last year."

Rockdale returned to the DeKalb Tennis Center to play Lakeside-DeKalb Wednesday in a rematch of last year's Class AAAA first-round match won by the Bulldogs, 3-1.

The Heritage girls tennis team had no trouble with Cedar Shoals, winning 5-0 Tuesday in Conyers. No. 2 singles Kayle Humphries and the No. 1 doubles team (Fran Murry and Devon McLaurins) didn't lose a game in straight set victories, while No. 1 singles Alix Maloney won 6-0, 6-1, No. 3 singles Ashley Merkel was a 6-2, 6-2 winner and the No. 2 doubles team (Kenzie Zirbel and Julie Roseberry) won 6-2, 6-0.