Warsaw's Sumpter, Truman Advance
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
DUNLAP - "Thanks, Ray."
That's what Warsaw's Blaine Sumpter had to say to his doubles partner Ray Truman after the duo's hotly contested 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Landon Conrad and Alex Keifer of Concord in the Doubles sectional semi-final at Concord High School Thursday.
Truman ended the match with an ace that sailed in between Conrad and Keifer.
It was one of many big shots Truman had on the night.
"He turned a corner tonight," said Head coach Andy Lewis of Truman's performance.
After dropping the first set 6-4, Truman and Sumpter charged ahead to a 3-0 lead in the second set. Things begin to fall apart after that as Truman's serve was broken and the Minutemen charged back to tie the set at 3-3.
The Tigers broke back; up 4-3 when Conrad double faulted to move to a game within winning the second set 5-3.
Sumpter put an exclamation on the 6-3 set with an unreturned overhead slam.
While Sumpter was effective at the net putting shots away with powerful overhead hits, he struggled most of the night with his backhand and serve.
That's where Truman came in.
"My partner held me together. He had the big points tonight. I'm just glad that he's my partner," said Sumpter.
Down 2-3 in the third set, the Tigers were faced with deuce before Sumpter sailed a baseline winner past Concord's Keifer. Truman then hit a gutsy return down the middle that froze Concord's duo to tie the contest's final set at 3-3.
"I knew Blaine was having a problem with his eye so I was looking to be more aggressive out there," said Truman of his play.
Sumpter complained of seeing white spots in his right eye due to facing the sun during the early part of the match.
The Tigers moved to within four points of the match after Conrad double faulted to give Warsaw the 5-4 edge.
The Tigers were up 40-15 when Truman's ace sent Concord packing and the Tigers into the sectional final.
The Tigers face DeKalb's Andrew Reger and Tim Wallace in the sectional final Saturday at 10 a.m. on Court 2 at Concord High School. If Sumpter and Truman defeat Reger and Wallace, Plymouth's Kyle Benge and Matt Houin will be waiting as the Tigers next opponent in the Regional that takes place Oct. 16 at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Sumpter and Wallace have split two matches with Plymouth's dangerous twosome this year. The Tigers Saturday soire with DeKalb will be the first meeting between the two.
"We just have to play smart," said Truman of what Warsaw needs to do to advance. "It's better to know your opponent but you just have to be smart out there and play your game."
CONCORD DOUBLES SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Blaine Sumpter/Ray Truman (Warsaw) def. Landon Conrad/Alex Keifer (Concord) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 [[In-content Ad]]
DUNLAP - "Thanks, Ray."
That's what Warsaw's Blaine Sumpter had to say to his doubles partner Ray Truman after the duo's hotly contested 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Landon Conrad and Alex Keifer of Concord in the Doubles sectional semi-final at Concord High School Thursday.
Truman ended the match with an ace that sailed in between Conrad and Keifer.
It was one of many big shots Truman had on the night.
"He turned a corner tonight," said Head coach Andy Lewis of Truman's performance.
After dropping the first set 6-4, Truman and Sumpter charged ahead to a 3-0 lead in the second set. Things begin to fall apart after that as Truman's serve was broken and the Minutemen charged back to tie the set at 3-3.
The Tigers broke back; up 4-3 when Conrad double faulted to move to a game within winning the second set 5-3.
Sumpter put an exclamation on the 6-3 set with an unreturned overhead slam.
While Sumpter was effective at the net putting shots away with powerful overhead hits, he struggled most of the night with his backhand and serve.
That's where Truman came in.
"My partner held me together. He had the big points tonight. I'm just glad that he's my partner," said Sumpter.
Down 2-3 in the third set, the Tigers were faced with deuce before Sumpter sailed a baseline winner past Concord's Keifer. Truman then hit a gutsy return down the middle that froze Concord's duo to tie the contest's final set at 3-3.
"I knew Blaine was having a problem with his eye so I was looking to be more aggressive out there," said Truman of his play.
Sumpter complained of seeing white spots in his right eye due to facing the sun during the early part of the match.
The Tigers moved to within four points of the match after Conrad double faulted to give Warsaw the 5-4 edge.
The Tigers were up 40-15 when Truman's ace sent Concord packing and the Tigers into the sectional final.
The Tigers face DeKalb's Andrew Reger and Tim Wallace in the sectional final Saturday at 10 a.m. on Court 2 at Concord High School. If Sumpter and Truman defeat Reger and Wallace, Plymouth's Kyle Benge and Matt Houin will be waiting as the Tigers next opponent in the Regional that takes place Oct. 16 at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Sumpter and Wallace have split two matches with Plymouth's dangerous twosome this year. The Tigers Saturday soire with DeKalb will be the first meeting between the two.
"We just have to play smart," said Truman of what Warsaw needs to do to advance. "It's better to know your opponent but you just have to be smart out there and play your game."
CONCORD DOUBLES SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL
Blaine Sumpter/Ray Truman (Warsaw) def. Landon Conrad/Alex Keifer (Concord) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 [[In-content Ad]]