Squire Netters Blank Valley
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Hosting Three Rivers Conference rival Tippecanoe Valley, the Squires posted a convincing 5-0 win and improved their season record to 10-2 with just two regular season matches remaining.[[In-content Ad]]"I'm happy with the way the guys played tonight," said Manchester coach Eric Christiansen. "Monday against Columbia City, we came out flat. We came back and won that match, I think our experience showed, but tonight I thought we came out sharp."
In all three singles matches, the Squires won the first set 6-0. At No. 1 doubles, Steven Camp and Andrew Gnagy posted a 6-1 win in the first set.
That quick start set the tone for another Squire team win, and in only one of the four aforementioned matches did the Vikings score more than one point.
While Valley has experienced players on its roster, Christiansen pointed out his team has been playing together since elementary school. He thinks that bond and experience was evident against the Vikings and that it has really played a role in his team's success this season.
"I think it did," said Christiansen. "I think our seniors have played longer. My seniors have been playing together since fifth grade. I think that's made the difference in a couple situations this season. They're a laid-back group. They goof around from time to time, but I never have to get on them about working hard. They take tennis very seriously."
Not even a lineup change could slow the Squires.
Manchester's normal No. 1 doubles team of Bryant Wiley and David Cable, who are 12-1 this season, were absent Thursday because of school engagements. One was job shadowing, while the other was on a college visit.
Against the Vikings, seniors Steven Camp and Andrew Gnagy played in the No. 1 doubles spot, where they beat Josh Foster and Kyle Lowe 6-1, 6-1.
Normally, Gnagy plays No. 3 singles and Camp plays No. 2 doubles with Lahman.
Thursday, Lahman, a sophomore, moved to the No. 3 singles position and beat Valley's Landon Hendrix 6-0, 6-1.
"We considered playing Kyle at No. 3 singles earlier in the year," said Chritiansen. "He came out and played well tonight."
At No. 2 singles, Squire senior Gavin McNeely beat James Bradford 6-0, 6-1.
In the No. 1 singles match, Manchester senior Nate Cain topped Rosten Hamman 6-0, 7-5.
"I was glad Nate pulled out the win," said Christiansen. "The first set was the smartest I've seen Nate play. He knows what Rosten likes to do and he was able to take him out of his game. After that it kind of looked like a badmitton game, but I'm glad Nate pulled out the win."
In the closest match of the evening, the Squire duo of senior Andrew Baker and junior Scott Spaulding beat David Geng and Isaac French 7-6 (1), 7-5.
With the 5-0 loss, Valley fell to 6-8 overall and 1-3 in TRC competition.
The win gave the Squires at least a share of the conference championship.
Only four of the eight TRC schools field boys tennis teams, and all three teams the Squires have faced thus far they've defeated 5-0.
Up next for Manchester is a home match with TRC foe Rochester Monday and then the regular season finale with visiting Wawasee.
Thursday, however, is what the Squires are focused for, that's when sectional play begins in the IHSAA state tournament.
Last season, Manchester advanced to the regional semifinal, where they fell to Kokomo.
Kokomo, Christiansen pointed out Thursday, has won 11 straight regional championships.
Earlier this season, the Squires beat Kokomo 4-1.
"We set a goal at the beginning of the season to get to semistate," said Christiansen. "We were in the regional final last year, and we want to take the next step this year."
The Squires are certainly headed in the right direction.
MANCHESTER 5, VALLEY 0
Singles
No. 1 - Nate Cain (M) def. Rosten Hamman 6-0, 7-5
No. 2 - Gavin McNeeley (M) def. James Bradford 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 - Kyle Lahman (M) def. Landon Hendrix 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Steven Camp/Andrew Gnagy (M) def. Josh Foster/Kyle Lowe 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 - Andrew Baker/Scott Paulding (M) def. David Geng/Isaac French 7-6 (1) 7-5
JV - Manchester 4, T. Valley 0
Singles
No. 1 - Dennis Svennson (M) def. Tyler Peterson 8-1
No. 2 - Dale Ruppert (M) def. Russ Yeiter 8-1
No. 3 - Andy Dockter (M) def. Troy Adams 8-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Brandon Gray/Jacob Kincaid (M) def. Bryce Good/Ethan McDonald 8-4
Varsity records: Manchester 10-2, 3-0 TRC; T. Valley 6-8, 1-3 TRC
Hosting Three Rivers Conference rival Tippecanoe Valley, the Squires posted a convincing 5-0 win and improved their season record to 10-2 with just two regular season matches remaining.[[In-content Ad]]"I'm happy with the way the guys played tonight," said Manchester coach Eric Christiansen. "Monday against Columbia City, we came out flat. We came back and won that match, I think our experience showed, but tonight I thought we came out sharp."
In all three singles matches, the Squires won the first set 6-0. At No. 1 doubles, Steven Camp and Andrew Gnagy posted a 6-1 win in the first set.
That quick start set the tone for another Squire team win, and in only one of the four aforementioned matches did the Vikings score more than one point.
While Valley has experienced players on its roster, Christiansen pointed out his team has been playing together since elementary school. He thinks that bond and experience was evident against the Vikings and that it has really played a role in his team's success this season.
"I think it did," said Christiansen. "I think our seniors have played longer. My seniors have been playing together since fifth grade. I think that's made the difference in a couple situations this season. They're a laid-back group. They goof around from time to time, but I never have to get on them about working hard. They take tennis very seriously."
Not even a lineup change could slow the Squires.
Manchester's normal No. 1 doubles team of Bryant Wiley and David Cable, who are 12-1 this season, were absent Thursday because of school engagements. One was job shadowing, while the other was on a college visit.
Against the Vikings, seniors Steven Camp and Andrew Gnagy played in the No. 1 doubles spot, where they beat Josh Foster and Kyle Lowe 6-1, 6-1.
Normally, Gnagy plays No. 3 singles and Camp plays No. 2 doubles with Lahman.
Thursday, Lahman, a sophomore, moved to the No. 3 singles position and beat Valley's Landon Hendrix 6-0, 6-1.
"We considered playing Kyle at No. 3 singles earlier in the year," said Chritiansen. "He came out and played well tonight."
At No. 2 singles, Squire senior Gavin McNeely beat James Bradford 6-0, 6-1.
In the No. 1 singles match, Manchester senior Nate Cain topped Rosten Hamman 6-0, 7-5.
"I was glad Nate pulled out the win," said Christiansen. "The first set was the smartest I've seen Nate play. He knows what Rosten likes to do and he was able to take him out of his game. After that it kind of looked like a badmitton game, but I'm glad Nate pulled out the win."
In the closest match of the evening, the Squire duo of senior Andrew Baker and junior Scott Spaulding beat David Geng and Isaac French 7-6 (1), 7-5.
With the 5-0 loss, Valley fell to 6-8 overall and 1-3 in TRC competition.
The win gave the Squires at least a share of the conference championship.
Only four of the eight TRC schools field boys tennis teams, and all three teams the Squires have faced thus far they've defeated 5-0.
Up next for Manchester is a home match with TRC foe Rochester Monday and then the regular season finale with visiting Wawasee.
Thursday, however, is what the Squires are focused for, that's when sectional play begins in the IHSAA state tournament.
Last season, Manchester advanced to the regional semifinal, where they fell to Kokomo.
Kokomo, Christiansen pointed out Thursday, has won 11 straight regional championships.
Earlier this season, the Squires beat Kokomo 4-1.
"We set a goal at the beginning of the season to get to semistate," said Christiansen. "We were in the regional final last year, and we want to take the next step this year."
The Squires are certainly headed in the right direction.
MANCHESTER 5, VALLEY 0
Singles
No. 1 - Nate Cain (M) def. Rosten Hamman 6-0, 7-5
No. 2 - Gavin McNeeley (M) def. James Bradford 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 - Kyle Lahman (M) def. Landon Hendrix 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Steven Camp/Andrew Gnagy (M) def. Josh Foster/Kyle Lowe 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 - Andrew Baker/Scott Paulding (M) def. David Geng/Isaac French 7-6 (1) 7-5
JV - Manchester 4, T. Valley 0
Singles
No. 1 - Dennis Svennson (M) def. Tyler Peterson 8-1
No. 2 - Dale Ruppert (M) def. Russ Yeiter 8-1
No. 3 - Andy Dockter (M) def. Troy Adams 8-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Brandon Gray/Jacob Kincaid (M) def. Bryce Good/Ethan McDonald 8-4
Varsity records: Manchester 10-2, 3-0 TRC; T. Valley 6-8, 1-3 TRC
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