(April 3, 2015) The Stephen Decatur tennis teams won their first matches of 2015 over the Snow Hill Eagles on Monday in Berlin.
The Lady Seahawks earned a 7-0 victory. Decatur’s first through fifth singles players – senior Delaney Iacona, junior Katie Withers, senior Mallory Rolleston, freshman Laila Mirza and senior Calais Rodriguez – shut out their opponents 8-0.
Snow Hill forfeited first and second doubles matches to Decatur’s teams of Brittany Wangel and Claire Esham, both seniors, and senior Victoria Williams and sophomore Kat Harrell.
“I thought we played all right for the first match out. I think we’re still a little rusty,” said Decatur Coach Jamie Greenwood. “I think we have a little ways to go, but it’s nice to open with one like this. I thought their ground strokes were pretty good, but again, just a little rusty so well see if [Tuesday] they can come out and play better [against Parkside].
Decatur’s boys’ team won 5-2.
Christian Beres, a junior, pulled out an 8-6 win over his second singles opponent. Juniors Reed Watson and Jake Blosveren topped their fourth and fifth singles competition, 8-2, respectively.
Snow Hill forfeited first and second doubles matches to Decatur’s teams of juniors Deep Patel and Jose Roberts and freshman Frankie Nanna and sophomore Jimmy Brown.
“I’m really pleased with the performance of our guys. We started the season out on the right foot and got a win,” said Decatur Coach Steve Berquist. “With the weather that we’ve had, we’ve been unable to get out here as much as we would like. Their consistency is getting a little bit better than it was when we first started. That’s important in tennis. The teams seemed pretty similar, our guys just outlasted them in points.”
On Tuesday, Decatur hosted the Parkside Rams.
The Lady Seahawks edged out the Rams, 4-3. The competition came down to the last match of the day, second doubles. With the rest of the matches complete, the Seahawks gathered to cheer on their teammates, Williams and Harrell.
“It was keeping them going. When the girls came over to watch they played better,” Greenwood said.
Williams and Harrell won 8-4.
Iacona topped her first singles opponent 8-5. Rolleston logged an 8-1 victory at third singles and Rodriguez recorded an 8-4 win playing in the fifth singles spot.
“Traditionally, Parkside is a powerhouse so I was happy,” Greenwood said. “I thought we played well and hopefully they will keep it up.”
Beres was the only player from the Decatur boys’ team to defeat his opponent. He won his third singles match 8-4.
The Wi-Hi Indians are scheduled to come to Berlin on Tuesday to take on Decatur at 4 p.m.
