Thanks to Maranatha for this report:
Boys Tennis:
In a non-league showdown between two of the more historically successful programs in the San Gabriel Valley, today’s match didn’t disappoint, with the squads going 3-3 in each round.
The Aztecs are the defending CIF-SS Div. 4 Runners-Up and are now in Div. 3.
The Minutemen hope to follow the Aztecs’ run last season by making a deep run of their own in the Div. 4 CIF-SS playoffs this year.
Each round of play followed the same formula, with the Minutemen winning two singles sets and losing one, and the Aztecs winning two doubles sets and losing one.
The difference was the dominance against Keppel’s #2 and #3 singles players, as Maranatha registered four 6-0 and two 6-1 wins. Each of MHS’s singles players lost to Keppel’s #1, Raymond Lin.
Singles:
#1 Tim Huang 3-6 6-0, 6-0
#2 Nico Engling 0-6, 6-0, 6-1
#3 Laci Szabo 0-6, 6-1, 6-0
The final round of doubles play began with the Minutemen ahead 8-7. Needing one victory to tie and win on games, and two victories to win outright, 10-8, the expectation was that #1 Jordan Miao/Joshua Im would provide that first victory, playing Keppel’s #3 team, while hoping that one of the other two doubles teams could pull off an upset.
As it turned out, it was the #3 pair of Shahe Yerevanian/Matt Yip who stepped up for the Minutemen by winning their first set of the day against the Aztecs’ #2 squad, 6-3, guaranteeing the Maranatha win. #2 Sean Tang/Sawyer Tarampi lost, 6-1, to the #1’s, while Miao/Im were upset, 6-4, in the final set of the day, making the score, 9-9.
As has been the building narrative this season, Maranatha’s doubles teams once again struggled to play consistent tennis in all three rounds. Each team has shown flashes of brilliance for a set, only to drop focus and intensity in other sets.
If the Minutemen are indeed going to find success in the CIF-SS Div. 4 playoffs, the doubles teams will need to find a way to play consistently good tennis the entire match.
The talent and ability are undoubtedly there, as evidenced by some of their victories; but whether they have the heart, focus, and discipline to sustain that excellence remains to be seen.
The second half of the season will tell that tale. If the doubles squads do find their consistency and groove, Maranatha will be a force to be reckoned with.
Doubles:
#1 Jordan Miao/Joshua Im 4-6, 6-3, 4-6
#2 Sean Tang/Sawyer Tarampi 1-6, 6-2, 6-7(2)
#3 Shahe Yerevanian/Matt Yip 4-6, 6-3, 3-6
The Minutemen (7-0 overall; 3-0 in league) resume league play on Thursday, March 24, when they play host to New Roads, in hopes of maintaining their Coastal League lead.
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