So here we go, the last event of the 2024 boys’ tennis season.  Sixteen of the best division 2 rivals are competing to represent the NCS at the Nor Cal Team Tennis Championships next week.  The eventual winner of that event will compete in the CIF State Team Tennis Championships on May 25.  Each match we play now determines whether the season ends or continues, as it is a single elimination tournament from this point forward.

Acalanes was seeded #4 in the NCS championships behind #1 SF University, #2 Branson and #3 Bishop O’Dowd.  In the first round, Acalanes faced #13 ranked Sonoma Academy.  Even though Acalanes was higher seeded, there is a bylaw that impacts only the first round of the tournament.  League champion status supersedes seeding.  Because Sonoma Academy were the CMC-S champions, they hosted.  Eleven of the seventeen Dons varsity team trekked out to Garvin Park in Santa Rosa to take on the Coyotes.

The format is four singles and three doubles with a twist.  The matches go on starting with the lowest level to highest.  Therefore, #4 singles and #3 doubles are first to play and the #1 singles goes on last.  Because Sonoma Academy is a fairly small school, the eleven-person team is co-ed.  Outside of the first #1 singles set, Acalanes dominated each match so I’m going to skip the part where I highlight each player as the whole squad did their jobs today and won handily in straight sets.

The win today sets up a rematch of our preseason contest against Lick-Wilmerding, who in this tournament is seeded #5.  We defeated Lick 6-3 in a practice match without #1 Nick Owens in the lineup, but that was then, and this is now.  We must take this team very seriously as they are a legitimate contender and rock solid.  The quarterfinal match is Thursday at 5PM – Acalanes is the host.  We hope to see our loyal fan base on the sidelines.  Go Dons!  Coach Rick