Ten players, two coaches and a team parent made the 3+ hour trek to Fresno yesterday.  Today was day one of the California Tennis Class in Fresno.  Around 1,000 high school players across ~80 California high schools are placed into divisions based on overall team UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) strength.  Acalanes was placed in division 2, which after today, seemed about right.  The format for each round is three singles and three doubles. 

Acalanes had an early 8:30AM start with its first round against a talented Clovis North squad.  And yes, we were playing at Clovis North, so they had a home court advantage.  That wasn’t the deciding factor though, as I think we came out of the gate a little slow and just didn’t play up to the level of which we are capable.  We did have a few bright spots worth mentioning though.  #2 doubles partners Fisher/Marshall had a tough battle splitting a pair of 6-1 sets.  They went on to get Acalanes its only win by taking the super tiebreaker 10-6.  This was their first match together and the chemistry looked effective with Cameron providing consistency and depth while Marshall was active at the net.  #3 Hoeberechts went toe to toe with Hegde in a very close contest.  It looked like Bora would take both sets but he came up just short losing 7-6 (2), 6-4.  And first-time partners #3 Roberts/Lusch had two very tight sets.  The points were long and went back and forth, but Zenith/Manglani edged our Dons 7-5, 6-4.  Because we only had nine varsity players who could make the trip, Reed Lusch accepted an offer to step up from JV and join the varsity players at this event.  This is a great experience for him.   At the end of our first match, we lost 5-1.  But there was no time to rest as we played again at 10:30AM.

Our second round was against an energetic and entertaining Bakersfield team.  The match kicked off on a fun note as their team captain read off the line up so loudly that you could probably hear him in Lafayette.  Our boys took the courts with the intent of getting a win and getting back on course – and that they did.  #1 Sze Ting Chen made quick work of Noel 6-2, 6-2.  Chen was moving well, striking the ball cleanly and simply was the better player.  #3 doubles Roberts/Gorham posted a straight set victory giving up only five games putting the team up 2-0.  #3 Taylor switched from doubles to singles in the second round and though he lost 6-1, 6-2, the match consisted of long rallies and Sammy put up a good fight.   Sammy is figuring out that he has to get out of his comfort zone a little more by being more aggressive and moving forward.  #2 doubles Fisher/Marshall recorded a second win together in a dominating match over Ornelas/Rivera giving up only 2 games.

#1 doubles team Hoeberechts/Brewer clinched the team win with a great comeback over two guys the size of linebackers.  This was the first time Bora and Rhett played together.  They lost the first set 4-6 but you could see them gelling as a team.  Smart tennis and great execution resulted in both hitting winners and dominating the net.  They took the second set 6-3 and ran away with the deciding super tiebreaker 10-5.  Acalanes was now up 4-1 and all players gathered to help #2 Sze You Chen cross the finish line.  Yoyo lost the first set 4-6, came back to win 6-3 and it looked like he was going to win this match.  About six points into the super tiebreaker, Yoyo had now played four sets and his gas gauge dropped into the red.  He did his best to win this match but lost 5-10 in the decider. 

We go into day two with one win and one loss.  Next up are a local team, Buchanan and then San Luis Obispo.  On paper, both look like fair fights.  We took the boys to Olive Garden to make sure their tanks are full in the morning.  😊  Wish us luck as our objective is to win tomorrow’s flight.   Go Dons!  Coach Rick

Results: Clovis North defeated Acalanes 5-1

Singles

Bryon Quitorio (CN) defeated #1 Sze Ting Chen (A) 6-1, 6-2

Kyle Quitorio (CN) defeated #2 Sze You Chen (A) 6-0, 6-2

Ayush Hegde (CN) defeated #3 Bora Hoeberechts (A) 7-6 (2), 6-4

Doubles

Nikith Daniel/Nathan Magallon (CN) defeated #1 Sammy Taylor/Rhett Brewer (A) 6-1, 6-2

#2 Cameron Fisher/Blake Marshall (A) defeated Arnav Gupta/Rishabjeet Singh (CN) 6-1, 1-6, 10-6

Zander Zenith/Parum Manglani (CN) defeated #3 Nolan Roberts/ Reed Lusch (A) 7-5, 6-4

Results: Acalanes defeated Bakersfield 4-2

Singles

#1 Sze Ting Chen (A) defeated Evan Noel (B) 6-2, 6-2

Ryan Rosales (B) defeated #2 Sze You Chen (A) 4-6, 6-3, 10-4

Theo Brandon (B) defeated #3 Sammy Taylor (A) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles

#1 Bora Hoeberechts/Rhett Brewer (A) defeated Eric Nahama/Nathaniel Woods (B) 4-6, 6-3, 10-5

#2 Cameron Fisher/Blake Marshall (A) defeated Isaac Ornelas/Alex Rivera (B) 6-1, 6-1

#3 Nolan Roberts/Chris Gorham (A) defeated Shawn Price/Hudson Hopkins (B) 6-2, 6-3