Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AKRON - In describing Thursday's Tippecanoe Valley/Manchester boys tennis match, Manchester coach Eric Christiansen hit the nail on the head.
"They proved they were the better team this year," Christiansen said of the Vikings. "Not by much, but they proved they were the better team."
In topping the Squires 3-2 last night, the Vikings handed Manchester its first regular season Three Rivers Conference loss in seven years, and only its second since the mid 1980s.
"I told the guys if they couldn't get up for this one, something was wrong," Christiansen said. "They were ready."
The loss drops the Squires to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in the TRC. Valley, rolling through the best season in school history, improves to 12-2 overall and 3-0 in the TRC.
Said Valley coach Rod Hamman: "First of all, give Manchester a lot of credit. Eric is a good coach and he has a good team year in and year out. They didn't give it to us, we had to beat a good team tonight."
With four matches decided - both teams having won two - the spotlight turned to the No. 2 doubles match.
Valley's duo of seniors Andy Martin and Brian Love topped junior Nathan Bucher and senior Pieter Naragon 6-1 in the first set. The Squire twosome came back and took the second set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (11-9), before the Vikings prevailed 6-2 in the third set, giving them the point they needed to take they match.
"That's only the second time they've played together ever," Christiansen said of Naragon and Bucher. "They kind of started off slow, down 6-1 in the first set. I've seen Pieter play enough, I knew he would do his part."
Said Hamman of the deciding match: "It was just a match of who was going for their shots, and our guys went for their shots in the third set. Manchester battled. Our guys are seniors. They've played together for two years. I think that experience payed off."
The Vikings picked up their first team point of the afternoon at No. 1 singles, where senior Drew Shafer topped senior Bart King 6-2, 6-1.
"Drew has just been a real solid player for us this year," Hamman said. "He's mentally tough. He's been there (No. 1 singles) three years. I thought he was a little slow tonight, but he got his focus back."
At No. 2 singles, Valley's Phil Jackson topped junior Tyler Kelsey in straight sets 6-1, 6-3.
"Phil played a typical Phil match," Hamman said. "He's very consistent and doesn't usually beat himself. He keeps the ball in play, and when he finds what's working, he sticks with it."
The Squires picked up their two wins at No. 3 singles where junior Jeff Sincroft topped Luke Shambaugh 6-4, 6-3 and at No. 2 doubles where Sam Olsen and Jon Cable topped Scott Kindig and Zach Shambaugh 6-4, 7-5.
Manchester will be at TRC foe Rochester Tuesday, while Valley will be at Bethany Christian Tuesday.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 3, MANCHESTER 2
Singles
No. 1 - Drew Shafer (TV) def. Bart King 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 - Phil Jackson (TV) def. Tyler Kelsey 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 - Jeff Sincroft (M) def. Luke Shambaugh 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 - Brian Love/Andy Martin (TV) def. Pieter Naragon/Nathan Bucher 6-1, 6-7 (9-11), 6-2
No. 2 - Sam Olsen/Jon Cable (M) def. Scott Kindig/Zach Shambaugh 6-4, 7-5
JV - Tippecanoe Valley 4, Manchester 1
Singles
No. 1 - Joey Zapf (M) def. Sam Vanlaningham 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 - Stuart Jackson (TV) def. Zach Keim 8-7, 7-5
No. 3 - Brad Roberts (TV) def. Eric Simcoe 8-3
Doubles
No. 1 - Brett Kollin/Kyle Kamp (TV) def. Mathis Miller/Tanner Alger 8-6
No. 2 - Ryan Perry/Devin Reed (TV) def. Brad Simcoe/Deno Miliorini 8-4
