Eagles Blank Warsaw TigersWhen playing a team like Culver Academies, said Warsaw boys tennis coach Rick Orban, you have to take advantage of your opportunities.
The Tigers had opportunities Wednesday against the visiting Eagles but did not capitalize in a 5-0 loss.
“They’re definitely good, but we had an incredible opportunity at No. 1 singles, up 5-2, and we changed the way we played,” said Orban. These kids are learning, they’ve just got to understand you don’t change something that’s working.
“Culver’s No. 2 singles, man is he solid. Holy smokes that kid is good, and Spencer (Britton) wasn’t ready for that kind of pace. At No. 3 singles, that’s the kid that played 2 singles last year and beat Andrew Gauger, who was a great player. So yeah, Caleb (Williams) had his hands full with him.
“What I liked about both Spencer and Caleb is the way they kept their heads up. They didn’t show defeat, and they just kept going for their shots. They did what I asked them to do, and that’s all you can ask for.”
In the No. 1 singles match, Warsaw’s Colton Lind held a 5-2 lead in the first set, but ultimately fell 7-5, 6-1 to Ian Smith.
And at No. 3 singles, Vincent Huang beat Warsaw’s Caleb Williams 6-1, 6-0.
The No. 1 doubles match was the only one that went to a third set, as Warsaw’s Kyler Bartol and Bailey Buhrt fell 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 to Jose Peraza and Patrick Wilson.
“No. 1 doubles tonight, there again we had the opportunity,” said Orban. “We didn’t attack enough, and Culver’s boys went to the net, and they kept going to the net. That’s hard to beat when you’re staying back.”
In No. 2 doubles action, Warsaw’s Reuben Williams and Nolan Knight fell 6-4, 6-0 to Henry Bilicic and Peter Gallagher.
“No. 2 doubles tonight, they were just off,” said Orban. “They didn’t play the aggressive style of play that I would’ve hoped for.
“But then you look at a team like Culver, they’re the odds-on favorite to win the regional. They’re probably the favorite, if they don’t draw Carmel, to win the semistate.
“So, when you play a team like Culver, you have to take advantage of every break you’ve got.”
Culver Academies won the junior varsity contest 8-4, with all of Warsaw’s wins coming in doubles action.
Playing their third match in as many days, the Tigers travel to Northern Lakes Conference rival Plymouth tonight.
CULVER ACADEMIES 5, WARSAW 0
Singles: No. 1 – Ian Smith (CA) def. Colton Lind 7-5, 6-1; No. 2 – Nico Warnholtz (CA) def. Spencer Britton 6-1, 6-2; No. 3 – Vincent Huang (CA) def. Caleb Williams 6-1, 6-0
Doubles: No. 1 – Jose Peraza & Patrick Wilson (CA) def. Kyler Bartol & Bailey Buhrt 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2; No. 2 – Henry Bilicic & Peter Gallagher (CA) def. Reuben Williams & Nolan Knight 6-4, 6-0
Doubles: No. 1 – Sebastian Rodriguez & Paul Wilson def. Brian Elliott & Nick Marsh 8-5; No. 2 – Topher Bower & Will LeVan (CA) def. Michael Ray & Jake Kaufman 8-2; No. 3 – Wes Henthorn & Om Umare (CA) def. Kanton Waddle & Garrett Rodgers 6-0; No. 4 – Nick Rata & Dawson Vilamaa (W) def. Kenny Hong and James Wang 7-5; No. 5 – AJ Davidson & Connor Lee (CA) def. Gage Lind & Carter Schuh 8-3; No. 6 – Graham Landwerlin & Harrison Lewis (W) def. Larry Yang & Leo Bu 7-6 (8-6); No. 7 – Jaden Slater & Jack Vermeulen (CA) def. Rile Dugger & Cole Rhodes 6-2; No. 8 – Emerson Wong & Jake Kaufman (W) def. Ethan Holder & Tanner Koch 6-1; No. 9 – Michael Ray & Hayden Anderson (W) def. Nathan Lukac & David Snyder 6-1
