BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County High School tennis team is preparing to enter 15th Region tournament play this week.

The squad took on Shelby Valley on April 28 before defeating Paintsville in boys and girls 4-1.

Chloe May battled the third-ranked player in the region, Kiera Newsome of Shelby Valley, and came away with an 8-5 win.

Connor and Bryson Dials received the four seed for this week’s regional doubles tournament.

Caleb Horn and BJ Parsley are the other Cardinal pair for boys doubles.

In girls doubles, the team of Addison Kerr and Dakota Ward will play. Grace Caldwell and Chloe Alley are the second team to represent Martin County.

Regional qualifiers are Byron Marcum and Shawn Marcum in boys singles. Chloe May and Vittoria Dellamotta will represent the girls.

Against Valley, Chase Hinkle picked up a singles win for the boys (6-0).

In boys doubles, Caleb Horn and BJ Parsley defeated Bryson Bentley and Noah Wallace (6-3).

Bryson Dials and Chase Hinkle shut down Chuck Smallwood and Austin Johnson (6-0).

Caleb Horn and Shawn Marcum won over Kalob Coy and Bryson Bentley (6-0).

Connor and Bryson Dials dropped a tough match to Jaxson Napier and David Johnson (8-6).

Dellamota picked up a girls singles win (6-3) over Kandyce Trump. Dakota Ward and Chloe Alley both shut out their opponents (6-0).

In doubles play, Dellamotta and Ida Heinsen won over Hannah Robinson and Morgan Tuttle (6-0).

The Cards will begin region tournament play this Thursday at 2 p.m. at Lawrence County. Matchup times had not been announced by press time.