The Varsity Tennis team opened their 2013 season at home on March 19 with a matchup against Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg, VA). After the recent stretch of cold and wet weather, a warm spring sun shone down through the strong wind gusts onto a strong first showing by the varsity Tigers. As a reminder, each singles and doubles match victory counts as a team point; 9 points are possible from 6 singles and 3 doubles matches. Singles matches are 10-game pro sets (first to win 10 games with a two game advantage) with ad (deuce points are played). Doubles matches are 8-game pro sets.
The end of the day showed a final team score of 2-7. Putting up victories were Haotian Liu (Beijing, China) at #4 singles and the #1 doubles team of Dan Kim (Northvale, NJ) and Liu. Turner Wall (Chatham, VA) turned in two marathon efforts at #5 singles (coming back from 1-5 before succombing 7-10) and with #2 doubles partner, Rafael Tudela (Waleska, GA). The Tudela/Wall match clock ticked towards 90 minutes as the sun fled, leaving the duo to finish up under the lights of the Landon Center and dropping temperatures. Despite being behind for most of the match, they tied it up 8-8. The 7-point tiebreaker finally determined the outcome against the Tigers, 6-8.
Returning players in singles included #2 Frankie Chen (Beijing, China), #3 Rafael Tudela, and #6 WeiAn Chen (Hangzhou, China). Newcomer Dmitri Darrol (Beverly Hills, VA) opened at #1. Playing for Tiger tennis for the first time on the doubles side at #3 was the team of Zachary Bunner (Parkersburg, WV) and Taylor Dobbins (Brasstown, NC).
Getting in exhibition play was Chase Cooper, Ryan Phillips, and Charles Mulligan.
Our next match will take us to Charlottesville against the Covenant School this Thursday. The next home match will be against Fishburne Military School on April 2.
Individual Match Scores:
Singles
#1 – Dmitri Darroll v Logan Vlandis : 6-10
#2 – Frankie Chang v JJ Jeong : 7-10
#3 – Rafael Tudela v David Kang : 7-10
#4 – Haotian Liu v Nico Goray : 10-7
#5 – Turner Wall v John Henderson : 7-10
#6 – WeiAn Chen v Jacob Drane : 3-8
Doubles
#1 – Dan Kim and Liu v Vlandis and Jeong : 8-3
#2 – Tudela and Wall v Kang and Goray : 8-9 (6-8)
#3 – Zachary Bunner and Taylor Dobbins v Henderson and Drane : 3-8
