Frazier wins PAC-7 tennis singles title

ASHEBORO — Audrey Frazier said she didn’t have the utmost confidence when she played for the Piedmont Athletic Conference singles tennis championship last week, but the Providence Grove senior sure looked confident on the court.

Frazier, who had lost to Trinity’s Deanna Cobb in two of the three matches they had played against one another prior to the tournament, evened the season series in the most important match, a 6-3, 6-2 victory for the individual conference championship.

“I was not very confident, which is not good because I had lost to her two matches, but I was hoping since I knew how she played,” Frazier said. “I could use all the techniques that I planned out and beat her.”

Frazier had little trouble getting to the finals, defeating her first two opponents, losing just one game in those four sets, before a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the semifinals. Cobb had advanced through the other side of the bracket and the two faced off for the fourth time this year. 

Trinity and PG played two regular season matches and then had to play a tiebreaker for the top seed in the state tournament after both teams finished 9-1.

“I knew she hit a lot of short shots and I needed to stand a little closer to the net to get to those balls,” said Frazier, who didn’t begin playing tennis until just prior to her freshman season. “Also, I needed to place the ball in the corner so she couldn't get them and hit down-the-line shots, and I hit some lobs because they are hard to get to.”

She was able to execute her plan and come away with the PAC championship.

“I was hoping I would go far,” said Frazier, a four-year performer. “I knew the first couple of matches would be super easy because you were playing someone lower, but I didn't think I would actually win. I was hoping I would.”

A hope that turned into reality.