This afternoon, the #11 seeded Dons Squad headed to Northgate to take on the #6 seeded Broncos. The boys knew that the only way to extend the season a little longer was to win today. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. We did have our chances though and we made them earn the win. After doing a little studying of the UTR ratings and our early season losses to Northgate, I decided on a different strategy today – “legally” stacking the doubles. After the first set of all three doubles lines, it looked like it was going to work.
The NCS format is different than what players and spectators have been seeing in regular matches. We play a 4 singles/3 doubles format (best of 7), and we play full three-set matches. If at some point in the match, one team has mathematically lost, the coaches can decide to play a 10-point tiebreaker to decide the remaining matches that split sets.
The harsh reality of stacking the doubles means moving our lower-ranked singles players into higher lines. If I spin, and I will, it gave freshmen Sammy Taylor, James Ammerman and Rhett Brewer a chance to play Northgate’s strongest singles players. This experience is a dose of reality as to what to expect next year when our top two players, Sze Ting Chen and Saaj Shah, graduate. Interesting enough, #2 Taylor was trading shots with E. Mojadidi and held his own though he had difficulties returning Elias’s big first serve. In addition, #3 Ammerman pushed Timokhin to a closer than expected 6-3, 6-4 loss. James was definitely in this match with several games getting to deuce. James played very well and used his consistency to frustrate Nick. #4 Brewer ran into a solid Bazulin and was struggling a bit with his serve and shot execution. All three lower singles lines lost. #1 Sze Ting Chen did get a win though taking down Lele 6-2, 6-2. A sweep of the doubles was now needed.
Though all seven matches went on at the same time, the three doubles matches finished last. In all three, the Dons won the first set. Depending on which court you were watching, different scenarios started playing out after that – including some nervous play and the opponent really stepping up. #3 Fisher/Marshall won the first set 6-4 but unforced errors and tightness crept in and Kavlak/Rees capitalized while stepping up and coming back to win the last two sets 6-3, 6-1. #1 Sze You Chen/Hoeberechts took the first set 6-2 before Choi/Keep played some incredible tennis to come back and win 7-5, 6-1. This match had a lot of fun points and great gets. Because Acalanes was now mathematically defeated, #2 Shah/Shin, who split a pair of tiebreakers against Golovin/M. Mojadidi, played a 10-point super tiebreaker to decide the third. Vadim and Musa ran off to a 10-3 win. Saaj and Kyle played very well in another match that had several great points. This was a very closely contested match that could have gone either way. And just like that, the Acalanes season comes to a close.
Before I sign off for the season, I want to say a last goodbye to our wonderful departing seniors: Sze Ting Chen, Blake Marshall, Billy O’Brien, Saaj Shah, Kyle Shin, Vedant Todi, and Andrew Zheng. It’s been a pleasure and experience coaching you seven and I wish you great things in your future. You will be missed next year! See you at graduation. The message to the underclassmen is to play in the off season. You will be together for a while. Let’s get revenge next year.
A final thanks to assistant coaches Peter Brightbill and Peter Foster and all of our amazing parents who helped the team so much all season. Enjoy the summer and see you next year. Go Dons. Coach Rick
Results: Northgate defeated Acalanes 6-1
Singles
#1 Sze Ting Chen (A) defeated Raihan Lele (N) 6-2, 6-2
Elias Mojadidi (N) defeated #2 Sammy Taylor (A) 6-1, 6-2
Nick Timokhin (N) defeated #3 James Ammerman (A) 6-3, 6-4
Dimitri Bazulin (N) defeated #4 Rhett Brewer (A) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
Nicko Choi/Nico Keep (N) defeated #1 Sze You Chen/Bora Hoeberechts (A) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
Vadim Golovin/Musa Mojadidi (N) defeated #2 Saaj Shah/Kyle Shin (A) 6-7 (8), 7-6 (3), 10-3
Ozan Kavlak/Maks Rees (N) defeated Cameron Fisher/Blake Marshall (A) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
