The changes to the DAL Foothill Division have been a little confusing so before I break down the Benicia match, let me shed some light on how the league works this year.  For 2025, only four teams are competing in the Foothill Division: Acalanes, Campolindo, Miramonte and Northgate.  Therefore, the team’s “league” win-loss record will consist of six matches – two against each team.  Acalanes will also compete in four ‘interleague” matches: Benicia, Clayton Valley, College Park and Las Lomas.  We will play those four teams once and those results will count against our overall win-loss record, but they are considered non-conference teams.  So, they are grouped with our practice matches, i.e. Branson, Head Royce, etc.  The only matches that do not count against our win-loss record are scrimmage matches.  We played only one – which was against Piedmont.  Scrimmages are typically played at the very beginning of the season when teams are just finishing up tryouts and haven’t really finalized their team lineup.

Today, the Dons played the first of four interleague matches.  Though 8-1 sounds like we dominated the Panthers, many of the scores were close with four matches getting decided by a third set super tiebreaker.  It was a great weather day for tennis and the six singles matches went out first.  #2 Eagens finished first and was simply the better player, cruising to a 6-3, 6-1 victory.  Peyton played a solid match, was the aggressor and was never in any trouble.  #4 Shah finished second.  He lost the first set 5-7 but dialed in for the second set.  Saaj was up 4-1 in the second when Anderson retired after rolling his ankle.  Acalanes was quickly up 2-0.

#3 Sze You Chen finished next.  Yoyo won the first set 6-4 and it looked like it would be a straight set win.  Some tentativeness and unforced errors complicated things, and he lost the second set 4-6.  He just couldn’t get himself back on the rails and the third set super tiebreaker went to Zambrano 10-4. 

The Hoeberechts brothers must have had the same thing for breakfast and lunch because they had a very similar match scenario while playing right next to each other.  Both lost the first set, then won the second.  #5 Bora finished first winning the super tiebreaker 12-10.  #6 Kaya was in a tug of war match where the rallies went extremely long and both boys were huffing and puffing between points.  It was Hoeberechts though who out finished Bown 10-8.  At the same time, #1 Owens was struggling to finish off Somasuandan.  Nick won the first set 6-4 and was up 5-2 playing high-level tennis against a worth adversary when unforced errors and frustration made the finish line harder to see.  Suddenly he was down 5-6, but some “wise” words from his coach settled him down and he closed out the match 7-2 in the second set tiebreaker.  Acalanes had now clinched the overall match with the fifth win.

#1 dubs partners Rocca/Marshall made quick work of Slater/Chaineux adding two more bagels to the two boxes we brought for snacks.  They were simply dominant and the better players on the court.  #2 Goldwyn/Shin got off to a shaky start, but found their stride after Danny ran into the back fence which protruded slightly into the court.  He said the collision helped his game…just too many punchlines here, I’ll leave it alone.  But I know what to do next time Danny and Kyle lose the first set.  #3 Zheng/Roberts were playing in their first varsity match this year and they closed out the show with a nice 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory.  Once they found their stride in that first set, they ran off with the second set convincingly.  Dons 8, Panthers 1.

The boys seem to have regained their mojo this week.  I didn’t play Sze Ting Chen, our team’s top player, because that level of firepower just wasn’t needed.  We were also missing Foster who I expect back next week.  Though the boys had to play up a spot or two, they did a great job today.  Coach Peter and I were extremely proud.  Next week, we take on College Park on Tuesday and Las Lomas on Thursday as interleague play continues.  The following week is spring break. 

And yes, I always close by thanking the many family members who this time drove over the bridge to watch us play in Benicia.  Thanks so much for the support and the nice buffet of snacks – our boys are so spoiled.  Go Dons!  Coach Rick

Results – Acalanes defeated Benicia 8-1

Singles

#1 Nick Owens (A) defeated Suraj Somasuandan (B) 6-4, 7-6 (2)

#2 Peyton Eagens (A) defeated Aidan Chen (B) 6-3, 6-1

Ian Zambrano (B) defeated #3 Sze You Chen (A) 4-6, 6-4, 10-4

#4 Saaj Shah (A) defeated Adacus Anderson (B) 5-7, 4-1 retired

#5 Bora Hoeberechts (A) defeated Connor Chen (B) 3-6, 6-2, 12-10

#6 Kaya Hoeberechts (A) defeated Matthew Bown (B) 2-6, 6-4, 10-8

 

Doubles

#1 Dylan Rocca/Blake Marshall (A) defeated Ben Slater/Nalec Chaineux (B) 6-0, 6-0

#2 Danny Goldwyn/Kyle Shin (A) defeated Aidan Lee/Wyatt Hanford (B) 5-7, 6-1, 10-4

#3 Andrew Zheng/Nolan Roberts (A) defeated Walt Warner/Esa Barauzai (B) 7-6 (5), 6-2