Acalanes hosted Piedmont today in a scrimmage match.  The difference between a league or practice match versus a scrimmage match is that scrimmages have no impact on the team’s overall win-loss record.  It’s not recorded anywhere except here in this booster article.

It was another great weather day for tennis and the Dons were fully staffed as the entire roster was on site and ready to play.  Piedmont was a little short-handed as some players were still finishing other sports or out ill, but we still took them seriously and the boys played well.  #2 Owens, #3 Eagens and #4 Sze You Chen finished their matches fairly quickly in straight-set wins.   Sze You’s match had a tight first set as he ran into a human backboard in Misra.  After winning that set in a tiebreaker, Chen problem solved, changed his game plan and dominated with a 6-0 second set win.

#2 Rocca/Marshall and #3 Goldwyn/Ristow finished their matches almost at the same time.  Both won in straight sets and locked up the overall team win with four matches left to finish.  #1 Kaya/Bora Hoeberechts then finished with a straight set win and the rout was on.  #6 Shah gave up no games in a 6-0, 6-0 romp and then #5 Foster’s win took us to an 8-0 lead.  The last match was easily the most competitive and entertaining to watch.  It was a battle between the two team’s #1 players.

This was my first time really watching #1 Sze Tin Chen play a full match.  He and opponent Smolko were trading big first serves and huge ground strokes and ran each other all over the court.  It felt like watching a college match.  Though in the end, Smolko got the 7-5, 6-3 win, it was not without a good fight from Chen.  I have huge respect for his talent and am going to enjoy watching him get even better over the season.  We have a very solid squad and are almost ready to get into league play.  The next two matches will be even tougher as Head Royce and Branson are top tier division two teams.  I’m confident the boys will rise to the occasion.

I will never forget to thank our family members for their support.  We had a nice turnout today.  We’ll need that support tomorrow as well – hint hint.  I also need to thank Mr. Honda, the English teacher who I hear reads these articles to his class after each match.  I’m sincerely appreciative.  Go Dons!  Coach Rick

 

Results – Acalanes defeated Piedmont 8-1

Singles

Lucas Smolko (P) defeated Sze Ting Chen (A) 7-5, 6-3

#2 Nick Owens (A) defeated Nick King (P) 6-0, 6-0

#3 Peyton Eagens (A) defeated Will Terrey (P) 6-0, 6-3

#4 Sze You Chen (A) defeated Emilio Misra (P) 7-6 (4) 6-0

#5 Sammy Foster (A) defeated Kasper Jansson (P) 6-1, 6-1

#6 Saaj Shah (A) defeated Drew Devries (P) 6-0, 6-0

 

Doubles

#1 Bora & Kaya Hoeberechts (A) defeated Luca Laforte/Ben Davis (P) 6-1, 6-4

#2 Dylan Rocca/Blake Marshall (A) defeated Hunter Fasteau/Joey Assalian (P) 6-2, 6-4

#3 Danny Goldwyn/Carsten Ristow (A) defeated Will Richardson/Ryan Entashami (P) 6-3, 6-4