FUQUAY-VARINA - One unique charm of high school sports is a team can be shut out by powerhouse, feel encouraged by its progress and set a goal of establishing credibility with a third-place finish.

Such is the case with the Holly Springs girls tennis team this season.

The Golden Hawks say they began to realize their potential following a 9-0 loss to Panther Creek, an untouchable Tri-Nine Conference heavyweight along with Green Hope.

"We scored at least six points in all the doubles matches – seven in one – and one of the singles was a tiebreaker,” said Holly Springs sophomore Bailey Edwards of the Panther Creek loss. “They beat us 9-0, but it wasn't that kind of match. We're in third place, and in this conference, that's good.”

Edwards, Holly Springs' No. 1 player, contributed points with a 6-0, 6-0 win at singles and teamed with sophomore Kristen Flanagan at No. 1 doubles for a 8-4 victory.

The graph charting Holly Springs' improvement continued an upward climb Wednesday afternoon as the Hawks defeated Fuquay-Varina 6-3 in a match that will go a long way toward deciding third place.

Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Cary and Apex have been in a battle for third in a race that has been swinging toward the Hawks in the rematches.

With Holly Springs' 6-3 win, the Hawks avenged a 5-4 lost to Fuquay-Varina. Against Apex, Holly Springs squeezed out a 5-4 win in the first meeting and then defeated Apex the second time around 6-3. The Hawks have also squeezed out 5-4 and 6-3 wins against Cary.

Holly Springs improved to 9-5 overall and 9-5 in the Tri-Nine with the Hawks' latest win. Fuquay-Varina must still play a match with Green Hope and complete a suspended match with Panther Creek.

Holly Springs has already finished its home-and-home series with Green Hope and Panther Creek, meaning on paper that Hawks can get through the conference schedule with five losses.

"I love our team,” said sophomore Megan Sredl, who contributed 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles. “When we need to get serious, we get serious. And then afterward we have fun as a team. That's what keeps us together.”

In other matches, Holly Springs senior Maggie Wiener won at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-1 and teamed with junior Haley Dabes at No. 3 doubles to win 8-1.

Wiener also credited Heather Goins, the Hawks' first-year coach, for the team's steady improvement. Goins, a basketball coach by trade, acknowledges tennis isn't her forte, but Wiener says Goins' strength is drilling the team in practice and motivating it on game day.

"She sends us inspirational text messages before matches,” Wiener said. “They get us motivated.”

Holly Springs' sixth team point came from senior Hannah Lamb's 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles.

Fuquay-Varina's three team points came from No. 4 singles Jasmine Kanetaka, 6-2, 6-3; No. 6 singles Erin Stiers, 1-6, 7-5 (10-8); and the No. 2 doubles team of Sarah Biddix and Camile Baker, 8-3.