A strong start wasn’t enough for the tennis Tigers at Bolivar Monday, in a 5-4 loss on the road. It was their first dual loss of the season.
Republic jumped ahead during doubles, winning two of three matches, including an emotional win in the #1 slot, as Case Birlew and Hunter Creek defeated William VanHoombeek and Chris Holt 8-6. Austin Massey and Isaac Jordan also won their doubles match 8-2.
Jordan and Massey won their singles matches easily, but Republic struggled at the top of the lineup, dropping its matches in the 1-4 slots. “We struggled with unforced errors and figuring out how to attack,” says coach Dan Vales. “This was a good learning experience for a young team before getting to the heart of COC Large play.”
The JV team cruised to 24 wins in 26 matches, continuing a strong start to its season.
“We are just seeing the beginning of what they can possibly do on the tennis courts and have tons of potential,” Vales says. “They are going to be a fun group to watch this year and beyond.”
Republic is 1-1 in dual play.