FLOWERY BRANCH — After seeing a second round playoff match delayed and preceding practices derailed by rain, Flowery Branch girls tennis coach Ginger Jackson admitted that her team was probably not on its absolute top form Wednesday.
For the outsider, it was almost impossible to tell.
The Lady Falcons crushed North Springs 4-0 in the Sweet 16 of the Class 5A playoffs at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex, winning all four matches in straight sets to soar back into the state quarterfinals for the second straight season and third time in four seasons.
"It's hard to take a week off and then have rain," said Jackson, whose team had to wait an extra day to face North Springs after last playing on April 17 in the first round. "So, yeah, I think it effected us a little bit. We won and showed well today. But we have some things we're going to work on and try to get better on in practice -- hopefully we can get back out here on Thursday."
With more rain in the immediate forecast, and a quarterfinal showdown with Union Grove looming before May 2, the Branch wants to sharpen its talons as much as possible.
"We try and get better every match," Jackson said. "And I think we've got a lot of potential to do really well."
The Lady Falcons certainly made short work of North Springs, completing the victory in just under an hour, as they swept the singles points and won at No. 2 doubles.
Olivia Correa notched the first victory, claiming a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles, while Olivia Nance followed just minutes later with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles.
Annabelle Thomas sealed the victory with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles, though the No. 2 doubles match finished almost simultaneously with Alicia Quast and Kendalle Quast prevailing 6-2, 6-0.
The Branch's No. 1 doubles team of Brenna Martin and Alyssa McSpadden won the first set 6-2 before their match was suspended with the victory assured for the Lady Falcons.
Thanks to the universal coin toss conducted by the GHSA for all spring playoffs on Wednesday, Region 8-5A champion Branch will play host to Union Grove (a fellow No. 1 seed) in the third round of the postseason, time and day still to be determined.
