The Morgan Academy tennis program maintained its reputation as a top tennis program, and finished the 2018 regular season undefeated.

It was business as usual for the Senators boys and girls tennis players, who swept Fort Dale Academy on Friday afternoon at the Memorial Stadium tennis courts.

Fort Dale was the ninth and final match up for the 2018 season for the Senators. Since the season started, the team has only lost four individual matchups, according to head coach Baxter Stinson.

The doubles matches were first, and both the boys and girls took their matches in straight sets. Belal Hammad and Taylor Jones won took both sets 6-1, while Ed Williams and Byron Jones didn’t surrender a single set to Fort Dale in a 6-0, 6-0 win.

The girls doubles combination of Ellie Adams and Lily Youngblood defeated their opponents 6-0, 6-2. Maggie Youngblood and Mary Ashlyn Pearce were in a tighter game against Fort Dale, but managed to win the first set 6-3 and the second set 7-5.

“I think we played well overall today,” Adams said. “Didn’t do as well as we’d like to in doubles, so that’s something we’ll work on next week. But overall, I think everyone did well.”

The singles matches followed a similar pattern for the Senators. The boys team only dropped six sets combined in six matches.

Hammad defeated his opponent 6-2,6-0. Jones won 6-0,6-0. Williams won 6-0,6-1. Trevor Wilson won 6-0,6-0, and Byron Jones won his match 6-3,6-0.

“We felt good coming in,” Williams said. “It just felt like we were able to get to more balls than they were and keep it in play. That’s what tennis is all about.”

The girls put together a strong outing as well. Adams won her match 6-0,6-2. Lily won 6-0,6-1. Maggie won 6-3,6-1. Pearce won 6-1,6-0, and Hannah Lightfoot had to come back to win her match 5-7, 6-3, (1).

“It feels good,” Adams said. “But we have a little bit of work left to do before we play at state in a week, so we’re not done yet. We haven’t played everyone that’s going to be at state, so we don’t really know what to expect. We’ve got to be ready and focused when we get there.”

The focus now turns to the state tournament, which begins Monday, April 9 in Montgomery.

“We’ve been playing well this season,” Williams said. “Our biggest competition is Tuscaloosa [Academy]. We won last time, but it was close. Hopefully we can keep it up, and beat them again in the state.”

The Senators split the state title last season with Tuscaloosa Academy, and are determined to get back to the state championship.

“Because of all the success they’ve had, they can get a little lackadaisical,” Stinson said. “We have lost a couple matches here and there, but we’re trying to tweak the things that cost us in those matches so we can turn it around in our favor for state.”