After a three-year hiatus Liberty Christian Academy (LCA, Lynchburg, VA) returned to the Landon Tennis Center. With LCA accustomed to VHSL rules, coaches split the difference. Rather than playing 10-game pro sets, the teams agreed to play 8-game (VHSL rules). And rather than play doubles first, the singles ladder kicked off the competition (VIC rules). Both teams came out swinging, perhaps more rusty that either would like to admit after Spring Break. Even the weather seemed to be enthusiastic for the return to competition with the morning showers, clouds, low temperatures, and steady high winds becoming a memory. With the sun bathing both players and onlookers with warmth, only the occasional wind gust remained to threaten to make every lob a potential adventure. While the singles ladder fell decidedly in favor of the Tigers, the Tigers and Bulldogs continued to fight throughout the doubles half while exhibition matches were held on the southern bank of courts. At #1 Singles, sophomore Tyler Morris (New Bern, NC) worked around a struggling Peter Helm. As Helm fought to regain his rhythm, pace, and confidence, Morris did not lose focus and pulled out of 8-3 victory. At #2, senior Youssef Abouzied (Giza, Egypt) put in a business-like effort to both overcome jet-lag and the efforts of LCA junior James Pang to persevere to 8-0. Sophomore David Kiesnowski (Appleton, WI) found himself in a battle of “steady” as most points came only after protracted rallies. At 2-1, he never looked back despite Bi’s dogged effort to get back into the match at 5-3, closing out the set 8-4. Evan Troast (Lighthouse Point, FL, 8th grade) persisted againsth freshman Kael Swartz, 8-2. #5 Sophomore Sebastian Richardson (Charlotte, NC) struggled to hit the ball solidly but persisted to take junior Daniel Kim 8-2. Rounding out the ladder, Sam Wilkerson NYC, NY, 8th grade) made his Varsity singles premier with a 8-1 victory over freshman Josh Powell.
With the score 6-0 after singles, the Tigers doubles ladder still mattered as the team searched for the right combination within the specific needs for a good doubles duo. At #1, Morris and Kiesnowski found themselves once again facing their singles partners again. This time the LCA pair seemed to more than double their singles power. As the Tigers traded games, the score was 2-2 after the first cycle of serves. From there LCA held serve, making it 2-3. The Tigers broke and held to go up 4-3. From there, it was a ratchet-like effort with no uncontested games. At 6-5, the tipping point came. With the match moving to 6-all, and the light and temperature falling, the Tigers broke serve and then held to take the match 8-6. At #2 doubles, Troast was matched up with junior Aidan Steinbach (Durham, NC). As the two tried to match styles and still maintain their individual grooves, the match quickly degenerated to 2-7. Troast and Steinbach rallied to take two games before succumbing 4-8 to Pang and Swartz. At #3 doubles, two diligently developing players, freshman Walter Thompson (Chatham, VA) and Maddox McCluer (Hickory, NC, 8th grade) took on Powell and Sam Perry. Although they jumped to a 4-0 lead, the Bulldogs continued to fight to 5-2 before trading games to 6-3. Thompson and McCluer then locked things down to finish out 8-3.
On the exhibition side of things, David Chen, Rashed Khraisat, and Sebastian Richardson took advantage of chance to mingle and further develop their games skills against LCA’s reserve players.
The Men of the Match were Walter Thompson and Maddox McCluer. They overcame uneven pacing and tough conditions to stay focussed without losing their sense of fun and love for the games. Although the score seemed lopsided, each game at this level is an adventure and one which the Tiger duo attacked with gusto.
The Tiger squad really appreciates the cadets, faculty, staff, canine-companions, and the families that took the time to both visit and encourage them. The win takes the Hargrave Tennis record to 3-1 overall (1-1 in VIC).
Our next match will be at home against Virginia Episcopal School (Lynchburg) on Friday, April 6 at 4:30.
Individual Match Scores:
Singles
#1 – Tyler Morris v Peter Helm 8-3
#2 – Youssef Abouzied v James Pang 8-0
#3 – David Kiesnowski v Bill Bi 8-4
#4 – Evan Troast v Kael Swartz 8-2
#5 – Sebastian Richardson v Daniel Kim 8-2
#6 – Sam Wilkerson v Josh Powell 8-1
Doubles
#1 – Morris / Kiesnowski v Helm / Bi 8-6
#2 – Troast / Aidan Steinbach v Pang / Swartz 4-8
#3 – Walter Thompson and Maddox McCluer v Powell / Sam Perry 8-3
