Warsaw’s boys tennis team opened Northern Lakes Conference play in style Thursday, ripping winner after winner in a 5-0 victory over visiting Elkhart Memorial.
The Tigers dropped just nine game over 10 sets against the Crimson Chargers, who are off to a slow start this year, according to Warsaw coach Rick Orban.
“We came in to the match knowing they had been struggling. They don’t have a very big team this year,” he said. “But the key for us was to not lose focus, and play our game from the beginning to the end.”
Spencer Britton kept his focus, needing the minimum 12 games to dispatch Memorial’s Duncan Learn at No. 2 singles. Caleb Williams beat Richie Hoover in a pair of 6-1 sets at No. 3 singles, and Colton Lind won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 singles.
All four sets played at varsity doubles were 6-1 in favor of the Tigers, with Bailey Buhrt and Kyler Bartol rolling at No. 1 and Nolan Knight and Reuben Williams doing likewise at No. 2.
Knowing what they did about Memorial before the match started allowed Orban to have his players work on things specific to each player’s game and style on Thursday.
“We worked on certain things for No. 1 singles, certain other things for two singles, and so on. It was a great match to work at what I think we’re weak at, so we can get stronger at those things in a competitive situation,” Orban said.
“In practice, the guys learn each other’s habits and even my habits, and even when I try to do something different, they tend to pick up on it really quick. When it’s against somebody you don’t know, and you don’t know their game, then you react to what they do, and each player makes a series of adjustments. So it works out a lot better if we can do it in a match.”
The junior varsity matches went equally well for the Tigers, as they swept all five courts.
Orban said next week the level of competition goes up a notch, with three matches in as many days.
“We have a tough match against Goshen, and they’re playing really well, and that’s on Tuesday. Then we have Culver (Academies) on Wednesday and Plymouth on Thursday.
“So we’ll have a good practice (today), with the kids focused on it knowing what’s coming up next week. So we’ll have a good practice Monday, too, and we’ll be ready for Tuesday.”
