Home Courts Hold Serve on Opening Night!
On the opening night of the 2020 USTA NEOTA 3.0 league season, home court turned out to be the advantage in Flight #1 as both host teams won close 2-1 matches to begin their season on the winning side! Meanwhile, two of the three home sides emerged victorious in Flight #2, but all finished with a 2-1 team score, showing just how competitive the Northeast Ohio 3.0 world really is!
Flight #1 Recap
Avon Oaks/Bay v. Chagrin Valley Racquet Club - 2-1
Both teams were looking to get off on the winning side as both travelled to away courts. Technically, the Avon Oaks/Bay team's home courts are, well, Avon Oaks. However, since 90% of the team hails from the rough and tumble outdoor courts of Bay Village, this was, in a sense, a road trip for them as well. As for CVRC, not only did they have to travel, but they also had to deal with an accident on 90W, further showing just how important home court advantage is in the 3.0 world!
In singles, Avon Oaks/Bay's Travis Haselswerdt took on CVRC John Fenner. Travis, a veteran 3.0er the likes of Crash Davis in Bull Durham (take that for what it's worth), had experience on his side while John, a relatively newer 3.0 player and doubles specialist, not only had to deal with the 90W delay but also the fact this was his first 3.0 singles match ever. Despite the new stage, John fared well, and as the match progressed, so did he, and the points and games were back and forth, back and forth, and back and forth ... like some sport in which the ball goes back and forth (mental note: look up sports in which the ball goes back and forth across a designated space), highlighted by one rally that went 20+ exchanges. Closer than the score indicated, John displayed great improvement and potential as the match wore on while Travis took home a 6-1, 6-3 win to open the scoring for Team Avon Oaks/Bay. Both could be heard to agree that, with seven children between them, they were hoping their wives were as pleased at their being gone for three hours as they were with their play.
In First Doubles, Avon Oaks/Bay put forth veteran 3.0 doubles specialist Donald McLeroy who was set to team up with fellow doubles stalwart Brian Chambers, but a late injury scratched Brian from the line-up. Not to worry, however, for Avon Oaks/Bay's Captain Dave "No Excuses Unless it's a Really Good Excuse" Karam has instilled a "next man up" philosophy, which meant someone was immediately ready to travel ALL THE WAY FROM BAY TO AVON to play, and that somebody was veteran Erik Overberger. CVRC countered with two relatively newer 3.0 players, Jimmy Heiman and Greg Marthe, who despite their youth, had a combined 14 doubles matches between them, showing they knew the special art that is doubles play. And play they did! With accurate shots, crushing services, and impressive netplay, Jimmy and Greg put on a show, taking their doubles match 6-1, 6-1 and evening the team match at 1-1. From the Avon Oaks/Bay perspective, "The only thing I did well today," summarized Erik, "was social distance." Well done indeed!
Thus, the team match came down to what turned out to be the final event, 2nd Doubles. Avon Oaks/Bay Captain David Karam teamed with rookie Ben Shaw to take on fellow captain, Orlando Dangood of CVRC, who also teamed with another relative rookie, Chris Ciavarro. Wow! Leadership and youth! What a combo! Dave and Ben's team roared off to a promising start, going up 3-0 as they combined precise serves with impressive defensive court coverage. But Captain Orlando, with his experience, knows that things can turn quick, and his team soon recovered to get back in the match, 2-6. No wonder this match had a crowd watching, as it was no doubt the marquee match of the evening! In the second set, it looked as if momentum had shifted, as CVRC took an early 1-0 lead. But Captain Dave's leadership combined with rookie Ben's athleticism made the difference, and they quickly stormed off to a 5-2 advantage. With the match all but in the books, 3.0 skills took over, and Avon Oaks/Bay started to grip, and as this is 3.0 tennis, and nothing is ever settled, and after saving several set points to stay in the match, Captain Orlando and Chris fought all the way back to be down but 4-5. With the pressure mounting, and with rookie Ben serving, Avon Oaks/Bay went up 15-0, only to be countered by a great CVRC play to make it 15-15. 30-15 turned to 30-30. NAIL BITING ACTION! With the entire team match seemingly riding on the next two points, Captain Dave no doubt gave his best Freddie Kitchens speech to Ben, who in turn served a Vinny Testaverde-like bomb and then, on the deciding point, hit a blistering Spergon Wynn-like forehand deep to force an error. And with that, not only had Captain Dave and Ben won their doubles match, but also sealed the team match, 2-1!
Congratulations to the CVRC team who made the trip and put on a fantastic show, not just for the several fans in attendance (of which there were several ... or at least more than a "couple" or a "few" ... or ... well ... there were some people there, and possibly there to watch the ... well ... yeah ...), but the Avon Oaks/Bay team as well.
Congratulations as well to several Avon Oaks/Bay players for not just enjoying an early season team win, but for setting several individual records as well. Donn is now tied with Mark Jeffers for most years of service while Erik is now fifth. Donn, though, now has the record for most appearances, 72, just one more than Mark! And Captain Dave, who is responsible for it all, with his first managerial victory, has entered the team's top five list with most victories ever ... at one! ... and is now tied for fifth all-time! WOW!
Next Up
Avon Oaks/Bay - @ Force
CVRC - Wembley
Wembley Racquet Club v. Mayfield Village Racquet Club - 2-1
While this reporter* wasn't present at this match, he has it on good authority (i.e., the USTA App) that it was a doozie!
In singles, doubles specialist and Wembley captain, JP Ayyappan took on MVRC rookie Christian King of the MVRC King Family. After a close first set, Christian showed who was - ahem - king (sorry JP), and helped his team take an early 1-0 advantage with a 6-4, 6-0 victory, his first ever 3.0 victory in his first ever 3.0 match! PERFECTION!
But in doubles, Wembley showed its strength (as predicted by this very website in our Preview, btw, in case you were wondering even if you weren't asking). Doubles star David Ries teamed with one of the best names in 3.0 tennis, Robert "The Mountain" Mountain, to take on MVRC Captain Rick King and - wait for it - another King, John King. In an incredibly close match, the Wembley squad showed their doubles experience and their doubles prowess as they held on to an impressive 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 victory. That being said, Captain Rick had to be feeling good that his young squad had taken one of the best doubles teams in the Flight to three exciting sets, while Captain JP had to be happy that with this win, the team score was even at 1-1.
Which meant, once again, second doubles would take the stage (as it rightly should!). The Wembley tandem of Brian Greene and Kiyotaka Fukamachi, with over 20 combined doubles matches between them, enjoyed the experience while MVRC's Phil and Brian King enjoyed the second best name in 3.0 tennis. Another close match ensued, with MVRC taking the early lead, but the experienced Wembley tandem was just that, experienced, and they didn't panic as they came back to take the second set in a dramatic (we assume) second set tie-break to push it to a third set SUPER tie-break (sidebar: how can you not love a sport that calls part of it's scoring system "super"?). In the SUPER tie-break, they did the same once again, pulling out a hard-fought, team match deciding victory to give their squad the 2-1 win!
But wow! What a match! Two SUPER tie-breaks! Wembley showing that in doubles, you just can't count them out! Team King showing they will be a power to be reckoned with this season! As they say at Wimbledon, Holy guacamole!
Next Up:
MVRC - Bye
Wembley - CVRC
Bye - Force
Next Up: Avon Oaks/Bay
Flight #2 Recap
(No reporters were present at this matches, but here are the recaps, some legit and some made-up, for your reading pleasure!)
Towpath v. Green, 2-1
Singles - Jason Dzik 6-3, 6-1 v. Elbert Enrique
1st Doubles - John Consilio/Craig Warner 6-1, 6-1 v. Rob Gonsor/T Bortz
2nd Doubles - Bryan Dudiwka/Joseph George 3-6, 2-6 v. Chip Bond/David Ginnetti
Notes - Jason Dzik improved his singles mark to an impressive 8-1 while John Consilio earned his 45th doubles win and partner Craig Warner entered the big 7-0 ... as in 70 career doubles wins!
Next Up - Towpath @ La Tuchie, Green v. North Canton
Paramount Medina v La Tuchie, 1-2
Singles - Bogdan Nicolae 3-6, 3-6 v. Ronald Thomas
1st Doubles - Roderick Yamat/Phil Towne 3-6, 1-6 v. Jeff Sterling/Jeff Sirak
2nd Doubles - Jonathan Glazer/Joseph Stanziano 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 v. Okey Ekechi/Kevin Thomas
Notes - Paramount Medina enjoyed probably the best injection of last minute talent as veteran 3.0 star Roderick Yamat joined the crew while fantastic doubles specialist Joseph Stanziano and raw but powerful Bogdan Nicolae did the same. Roderick added to his over 100 3.0 matches played with his appearance while Jeff Sterling earned his amazing 82nd (1) doubles win! Meanwhile, rookie Ronald Thomas enjoyed his first 3. 0 win!
Next Up - Paramount Medina v. Fairlawn, La Tuchie v. Towpath
North Canton v. Fairlawn, 2-1
Singles - Benjamin Young 6-3, 4-6, 0-1 v. Douglas Leohr
1st Doubles - Munir Ahmad/Timothy Booher 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 v. Mickey Remen/Timothy Shehan
2nd Doubles - Dave Schimko/Leon Crumpler 7-6, 6-3 v. Donald Albainy/Tom Giltner
Notes - Benjamin Young played his 36th total singles match while Munir Ahmad earned his 36th doubles victory. COINCIDENCE?!
Next Up - North Canton @ Green, Fairlawn @ Paramount Medina
Comments