Today the varsity team played its first home match of the season.  The sun made a rare appearance, and our family fans came out in big numbers.  It was a good day. 

We are still streaking from last year as the team went undefeated on its home courts in 2023.  The boys today proved too much in our practice match against Heritage, and most of the matches were won convincingly.  The top five singles players; Owens, Eagens, Brewer, Foster and Ledezma cruised in straight sets.  They are looking sharp and are preparing well for the league matches.  #6 Fisher lost the first set but came back and won the second 6-2.  It looked like he would close out the match, but Kassaye outlasted him 12-10 in the deciding tiebreaker.  It was just Fisher’s second varsity showing and he is gaining great experience with each match.  Reeder and Hoeberechts have established themselves as our top doubles team and didn’t give up a game today.  We are experimenting with other doubles teams trying to find the right chemistry.  Patterson and Marshall won easily 6-1, 6-0, and Lofting and Rocca’s outcome was a straight sets victory but a little closer 6-4, 6-2.  We were missing our #5 player today, Shah, who was a little under the weather, but the team covered well for him. 

Our next four practice matches were supposed to be at the California Tennis Classic in Fresno on Friday and Saturday, but we got some bad news today.  The tournament has been canceled due to the rain in the forecast.  Therefore, our next practice match will be March 5 (Tue) at Benicia High School.  I want to thank team parents Jill Owens and Suzie Lofting who did quite a bit of prep work for Fresno and now must backtrack and cancel everything.  I don’t know what I would do without them.

Also thank you to our family members who came out to support the team.  It was nice to see familiar and new faces rooting us on.  We never take you for granted.  We’re off to a good 2-0 start.  Let’s keep rolling Dons!  Coach Rick

Results – Acalanes defeated Heritage (8-1)

Singles

#1 Nick Owens (A) defeated Arnav Yashlaha (H) 6-3, 6-3

#2 Peyton Eagens (A) defeated Obi Chidi (H) 6-4, 6-0

#3 Tucker Brewer (A) defeated Conrad Faulkner (H) 6-2, 6-1

#4 Sammy Foster (A) defeated Blake Vitale (H) 6-1, 6-2

#5 Diego Ledezma (A) defeated Ethan Rajan (H) 6-1, 6-2

Anaz Kassaye (H) defeated #6 Finlay Fisher (A) 7-5, 2-6, 12-10

Doubles

#1 Ace Reeder/Kaya Hoeberechts (A) defeated Samuel Kim/Gabe Schmidt (H) 6-0, 6-0

#2 Blake Marshall/Quincy Patterson (A) defeated Rojan Habon/Neil Trehan (H) 6-1, 6-0

#3 Will Lofting/Dylan Rocca (A) defeated Ethan Cruz/Mason Raymond (H) 6-4, 6-2