What a difference a year makes.

Last February the Cass Colonels -- then a young squad -- were 2-0 and came up against Cedartown and saw the Bulldogs smash their perfect record by a 5-0 margin.

On Thursday, Cass hosted the Polk County tennis team at Hamilton Crossing Park and clawed out a pressure-packed 3-2 victory. The Cass girls weren't not as fortunate, however, and fell 3-2.

Head coach Chris Allen said the boys' win is kind of a milestone for this particular edition of the Colonels because they include many of the same players who withstood the beatdown Cedartown administered last year.

This week, however, the Colonels had a year's physical growth to showcase on the courts and, more importantly, the benefit of all that experience they received last season.

"This has become sort of an annual rivalry for us," Allen said, "and this is the first time the boys have overcome and have been able to take them down."

He said even sweeter is the fact the win lets Cass notch its third victory -- against no losses. "We're 3-0, which is a great start, no matter if it is early in the season."

Allen said the win shows the players that all the effort they have put in is playing off.

Cass got one of its winning matches courtesy of Joey Johnson, via the singles route, 7-5, 6-1.

The Colonels got two wins through the doubles play of Kaleb McBrayer and Matt Moore, who won 6-4, 6-2, and Sean Lipinski and Brad Delee, who claimed 6-0, 6-3 victories.

Cass girls

The Lady Colonels came up one win short of taking their match against Cedartown.

On Thursday, it was the doubles play that lifted Cass.

Ally Prewett and Emily Heater won 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 while Hannah Delia and Brianna Summers won 6-4, 6-3.

Allen said the girls will take the loss and move on.

"It's our first loss and we expected some, especially considering we have four girls in our varsity starting lineup that weren't there last year," he said. "We love to win but it's about getting better and to the next level. These are the types of matches that will help us do that."

Cass returns to the tennis courts Wednesday, when it will host North Paulding County at Hamilton Crossing.

"That will be a tough match," Allen said.