Tennis teammates from RHS nab state championship with college squad

Two members of the Russellville High School graduating class of 2020 are a part of this year’s Central Alabama Community College team that recently won the Alabama Community College Conference women’s tennis state championship.

Ellyse Strickland and Anna Woods both were talented players at RHS, and the two have remained teammates at CACC in Alexander City, playing for the Spartans under interim coach and athletic director Kathleen Thompson.

CACC won first place in the ACCC state tournament, held in Mobile, by one point over Wallace State-Hanceville.

Strickland played with Alyssa Vandiver, a Deshler High graduate, at No. 3 doubles and won first place at the state tourney. Woods also participated in the state tournament as a No. 6 singles player.

With the victory, the Spartans earned a spot in the upcoming NJCAA National Tennis Tournament, scheduled for May 7-11 in Tucson, Arizona.

Strickland is the daughter of Kevin and LeAnn Strickland, and Woods is the daughter of Danny and Shelia Woods.