Over the years the Mona Shores boys tennis team has been among the best in the area, while the Reeths-Puffer program has struggled to keep up with its rival.
That’s why the Rockets’ 8-1 victory over the Sailors on Monday, in R-P’s first O-K Green conference match of the season, was so exciting.
Reeths-Puffer was dominant, capturing all eight of its victories in straight sets.
R-P's Ethan Frang blasts a backhand shot. Photo/Steve Gunn
Even the Rockets’ one loss was very close and went to a third-set tiebreaker.
R-P singles players won 48 of their 62 games and the doubles teams won 73 of 106.
It was the kind of drubbing that the Rockets have rarely, if ever, inflicted on Mona Shores, and showcased how far the R-P program has developed.
“As a program it was nice to get a solid win over a traditional local power,” said R-P head coach Ryan Hankinson. “Everyone winning in straight sets, other than two doubles, where we had a sub in the lineup, shows the depth our program has developed, which hopefully will serve us well down the road.”
R-P's Holden Earnest celebrates after winning a point. Photo/Steve Gunn
All four R-P singles players cruised to victory with little trouble.
Ethan Frang (No. 1 singles) beat Landen Hall 6-0, 6-0. Quinn Alderink (No. 2 singles) downed Jackson Hurley 6-1, 6-4. Cory Judd (No. 3 singles) beat Benjamin Warren 6-2, 6-2 and Adam Miller (No. 4 singles) beat Castor Dempsey 6-3, 6-2.
“I could not be more proud of our approach to matches lately,” Hankinson said about the singles players. “We have tweaked our drills and habits in practice, which seems to be helping each of them compete and succeed better in matches.”
R-P's Adam Miller returns a low shot. Photo/Steve Gunn
Four Rockets doubles teams also won in straight sets.
R-P’s Holden Earnest and Trent VanDam (No. 1 doubles) beat Luka Ivanov and Amilia Pena, 6-3, 6-1. Jackson Baldus and Leo Kretschmar (No. 3 doubles) beat Toby Judson and Alex DeRose 6-3, 6-2. Preston Singleton and Kaden Marshall (No. 4 doubles) beat Lucas Higgins and Connor Knop 6-0, 7-5, and Vaughn Simons and Erik Trulsen (No. 5 doubles) beat Miles O’Brien and Isaac Musnon 6-1, 6-3.
“The match served as a great teaching tool for each doubles flight to learn what they need to clean up as we strive to continue improving and peaking in the three big tournaments we have left – city, conference and regionals.”
R-P's Cory Judd (top) returns a shot. Photo/Steve Gunn
R-P's Trent Van Dam waits for a serve at the net. Photo/Steve Gunn