It was a strange night at the Tiger Tennis Courts Wednesday night.
After a three-hour match, the Warsaw Tigers evened their season record at 1-1 with a 3-2 win over the visiting Columbia City Eagles."As young as we are at spots, and inexperienced all the way through, we knew this would be a tough match," Warsaw coach Rick Orban said. "Actually, I'm extremely happy with a 3-2 win tonight."
Featuring a lot of new names, junior Keaton Joyner won at No. 1 singles, while freshmen Brenton Reyner won at No. 2 singles and Evan Miller fell in a tough three sets at No. 3 singles.
At No. 1 singles, Joyner breezed to a 6-0 first-set win, then got ahead 3-0 in the second before he started sputtering.
Facing a kid that was listed as the Eagle's No. 1 JV player coming into the match, Columbia City's Devin Moore forced the match into a tiebreaker, which Joyner bounced back to win 6-2.
Reyner also coasted to a first-set win, 6-1, but like Joyner, let up in the second, losing 7-5. However, in the third, Reyner regained his form and put Columbia City senior Travis Johnson away.
"Absolutely no one on the team quit, and they had several opportunities to give up and throw the towel in," Orban said. "But nobody did."
Miller could have also quit at No. 3 singles after falling behind 5-2 in the first set. Faced with big deficit, Miller reeled off the next six points, forcing a tiebreaker, which he won 6-1.
Miller would go on to lose the next two sets 6-1, 6-3 in a match which featured the highest volleys anyone will ever see in a tennis match
On the doubles courts, senior Will Anderson and sophomore AJ Herendeen got a 7-5, 7-5 win at No. 2, while the senior combination of Nick Shoemaker and Scott Campbell lost 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1.
"We have really battled against Columbia City the last few years," Orban said. "Every time we play them, I know it's going to be hard-fought battle. Their coach, Doug Stoffel, is a great coach and a great sportsman. His kids are polite and have good sportsmanship. They just never give up, and we know that."
Orban may know more about Columbia City's fight than he does his own lineup right now.
"I was pleased with what I saw, but we're definitely a work in progress," he said.
"I'm still searching for the right person in the right position all the way through the season," he added.
