June 3, 2021 at 8:42 a.m.
Hodag netters fend off Medford 4-3, take command in the GNC title race
Hodag netters fend off Medford 4-3, take command in the GNC title race
The RHS boys' tennis team put itself in position to win its seventh straight GNC title, and ninth in the last 11 years, with a 4-3 victory at second-place Medford on Tuesday night.
The win gave Rhinelander a six-point cushion, with a match in hand, on the Raiders. The Hodags had a chance to pad that lead in a match yesterday afternoon at Antigo ahead of today's Great Northern Conference tournament at the RHS tennis courts.
"We were looking to capitalize on any points we could gain going into Friday toward our goal of winning conference," Hodag coach Matt Nichols said. "We were able to do that. We got a couple of extra points and Medford went a little farther behind us, which was nice."
Not that Medford made it easy on the Hodags. The Raiders captured the bottom three singles flights and Rhinelander had to rally from down a set at No. 3 doubles with the team of Jake Losch and Joseph Heck to remain undefeated on the season.
Losch and Heck were in trouble early, dropping the first set 1-6 to Brayden Machon and Dante Axon, but the senior tandem rallied with a 6-3 win in the second set and took the decisive third set, 6-2.
"We had a really slow start there," Nichols said. "After that set, the guys definitely got fire in their eyes and they came out with a vengeance, played well and earned the win. It took longer than expected, having gone to the third set. But, after the first set, it was nice to see them come out on top."
"I think we were just not playing very consistent," Nichols added. "The Medford guys, all their doubles are strong in the sense that they come up to the net, really put the pressure on and we were not able to hit around them or hit over them. We figured that out in the second set and then we came up and started to take our fair share of the points at the net."
The Raiders were able to swing the results at Nos. 2 and 4 singles from the teams' first meeting back on May 11 to make Tuesday's match much closer. Quinton Tlusty, who lost to Rhinelander's Joey Belanger 6-1, 6-4 the first time around at No. 2 singles, was a 6-2, 6-1 winner over the Hodag freshman on Tuesday. Joey Sturzl won a three-setter at No. 4 singles in the first meeting, but faced a new opponent in Brayden Balciar on Tuesday and fell 6-0, 7-5.
Medford also got a more convincing result at No. 3 singles this time around as Ethan Swaintek defeated Leo Losch, 6-3, 7-5. Swaintek won the first meeting in a third-set tiebreaker.
"We were definitely struggling there. They came out strong. They wanted it bad and they ended up coming up on top. They earned those points," Nichols said. "We struggled a bit with their slice and I think, overall, we just looked a little flat. I'm hoping we can shake that off and get back to our game and come back with a little more energy next time."
Jacob Weddle improved to 13-0 on the season and collected the lone singles win for Rhinelander, as he defeated Logan Searles in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
"Jacob was pushed a bit," Nichols said. "(Searles) had a really nice serve. We were getting decent returns on it, and we just worked to keep those a little deeper so Medford couldn't be as offensive on it. Once we were in the point, Weddle was able to rally from the baseline and rack up points there."
In doubles play, Luke Ring and Elijah Evers were 6-3, 6-2 winners over Tahtankka Damm and Kevin Damm at No. 1 while Billy Berwig and Layne Roeser took the second flight for the Hodags, 6-2, 6-3 over Saskatoon Damm and Adam Swedlund.
"No. 1 doubles was a solid matchup. Our guys had some good net play, struggled a little bit with serving, but were able to make up for it with there ground strokes and volleys," Nichols said. "Billy and Layne, they've been playing really strong the whole year. They're definitely at the top end of that No. 2 doubles spot. They came out and just played really well from start to finish - a good, solid, consistent game they know how to play and they played it well."
Rhinelander had the chance to extend its conference lead to as many as 20 points, based on how many matches it won yesterday in a match at Antigo that concluded after deadline. The Hodags also have history on their side entering today, as the team that has lead the conference standings following the dual meet portion of the schedule has gone on to win the conference championship in each year of the GNC's existence.
Play is set to get underway at 9 a.m. at both the RHS main and auxiliary tennis courts.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.