May 3, 2017 at 2:55 p.m.
Singles keys Hodags' sweep of Lakeland
Singles keys Hodags' sweep of Lakeland
The Hodags were successful in that regard Tuesday, winning all six contested matches in straight sets and sweeping Lakeland 7-0 at the RHS tennis courts.
The victory moves Rhinelander to 5-0 in the GNC and 9-5 overall. With a doubleheader at last-place Phillips ahead on Thursday, every individual match the Hodags can win puts two additional conference points in its coffers before next week's rematch between the two presumptive conference favorites.
"We felt from the beginning that we could win the match but knew that Nos. 1 and 2 singles would be the toughest matches," Hodag coach Bob Heideman said. "Also, we thought if we could win all seven, it would keep some pressure on Antigo who has a doubleheader with Lakeland Thursday."
Heideman was right - the top singles flights were where Lakeland put up its biggest fight. Markus Johnson had the longest match of the evening, holding off a couple of first-set rallies by Vincent Yu to take the match 7-5, 6-3. Johnson led 4-2 in the first set before Yu rallied to get back on serve at 4-4 and staved off a set point two games later.
"In tennis some points are more important than others and in the first set tied at 5-5, Markus won a couple of important points that swung the set," Heideman said. "That was after he was up 5-4 and lost a set point and then the game. That showed some mental toughness. He built on the momentum of the first set by getting off to a 3-0 lead in the second which he rode to the end of the set."
Logan Wild took care of the top singles, flight defeating Arron Petersen 6-3, 6-2. The common thread, according to Heideman, was that Wild got stronger as each set progressed.
"Logan has had a hard time closing out some opponents this year. Tonight was the exception," he said. "He took a close 3-3 first set and ran three games. Then he took 2-2 second set and ran four games. The key was limiting his mistakes and keeping the ball out of the middle. This was a match that will help restore some confidence."
Senior Matt O'Melia returned to the lineup after missing the first half of the season and showed no signs of rust, defeating Lakeland's Aric Van Order 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
"He controlled the match from beginning to end," Heideman said. "It is pretty much what we expected from the reigning three-year No. 3 singles conference champion."
Lakeland, with only nine players on Tuesday, forfeited the fourth singles flight to Rhinelander's Russell Benoy.
The Hodags had little trouble over in doubles. Grant Gilbert and Jared Fabich took the first flight 6-0, 6-1. Connor Young and Jared Haug were 6-1, 6-0 winners at No. 2 doubles. Marshall Bessette and Logan Oestreich took the third flight 6-1, 6-1.
"Overall the best part of the match was that all positions we had better scores than our first encounter," noted Heideman, who won his 298th boys' tennis match Tuesday. He could win his 300th in Thursday's doubleheader at Phillips.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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