Devils schedule tennis tests

Richmond will test itself with a challenging schedule in boys tennis.

That works well for coach Randy Hollingsworth — and Hollingsworth aims for it to work in the Red Devils’ favor as the season wears on.

“We’ve got a tough schedule and the NCC is strong again,” Hollingsworth said. “Our invitational will be strong again.

“Our schedule will definitely prepare us for the sectional.”

Richmond opens with a defending sectional champion. The Red Devils travel Aug. 15 to meet Northeastern.

RHS also faces Hagerstown on Aug. 16 on the Tiernan Center courts.

“That will be a tough match for us to open with,” Hollingsworth said of playing the Knights. “It will give us a good indication of where we’re at.”

Expected contributors this season include Matt Paddock, Cameron Gibbel, Henry Dickman, Corey Cox, Jordan Lake, Nathan Jones and Max Van Buskirk.

Hollingsworth has been happy with the effort shown in Richmond’s early practices.

“We’ve had some nice practices so far,” he said. “The weather has cooperated for the most part. The guys have worked hard. We seem like we’re ready to go.”

Richmond won’t wait long to see some North Central Conference opponents, either. The Red Devils will travel Aug. 18 to Muncie Central to face both Logansport and Huntington North.

They’ll follow that with an Aug. 22 home match with Connersville and an Aug. 28 trip to Lincoln.

The annual Richmond Invitational will be Sept. 1.

The Red Devils are shooting for a top spot in the NCC.

“Marion is always good. Anderson will be good. Muncie Central will be solid,” Hollingsworth said of

“If we can finish in the top half of the NCC, that would be a nice goal for us.”

Sports editor Josh Chapin: (765) 973-4463 or jchapin@pal-item.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JoshChapinPI