Plymouth edged by NLC foe Wawasee

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Boys Tennis Team hosted a strong Wawasee team at the Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Complex Thursday night, falling to the Warriors in a close 3-2 match. 

Wawasee, one of the top contenders for the NLC crown this season, was led by their stellar, all-senior singles lineup.

Plymouth played an altered lineup Thursday night — from their first two matches — with seniors Trey Delp, Trenton Van Duyne, and Maclean Miller manning the singles positions and battling tough competition. 

Maclean Miller lost a close straight-set match at three singles while Trenton Van Duyne came back strong in the second set to force a third and deciding set at two singles, before ultimately falling to a strong opponent.

Plymouth’s normal two doubles duo, Nick Manzuk, and Owen Walleske, shifted up to the one position Thursday night. The juniors stepped up in several key moments throughout the match and played aggressive tennis in a close straight-set victory.

Normally singles players in Plymouth’s early season lineup, Zak Kresser and Aiden Landis combined to play two doubles Thursday night. The newly formed, all-senior tandem battled back from a first set loss, to win the second set and force the decisive third set. Zak and Aiden raced out to a 5-2 third-set lead, and eventually held on for a dramatic win, taking the final three points of the tiebreaker to win 7-6(7-4).

“I thought our guys bought into our lineup change tonight, and I’m proud of how the guys battled throughout their matches,” said Plymouth coach Brad Haeck. “Wawasee is a tough matchup for us (and a lot of teams) with the strength of their singles lineup, and will have a very successful season. I expect them to be at the top of the conference, so for us to battle them so close, I think we took some good steps forward. Despite the loss, we certainly got better as a team tonight.”

The Plymouth varsity hosts Leo and FW Carroll in the Crossroads Classic Tourney at Plymouth on Saturday with a 10 a.m. start.

•WAWASEE 3, PLYMOUTH 2

At Plymouth

Singles:

1. Joey Harper (W) beat Trey Delp 6-0, 6-0

2. Kane Dukes (W) beat Trenton Van Duyne 6-2, 1-6, 6-2

3. Brayden Miller (W) beat Maclean Miller 7-6(4), 6-1

Doubles:

1. Nick Manzuk-Owen Walleske (P) beat Evan Byler-Dane Cripe 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4

2. Zak Kresser-Aiden Landis (P) beat Austin Harney-Grady Berkeypile 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(4)

JV tennis

Plymouth takes shut out over Wawasee

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Boys JV Tennis Team hosted the Wawasee Warriors Thursday night, and earned their first conference win of the young season with a 7-0 shutout.

Plymouth JV hosts Peru on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. start.

•Plymouth 7, Wawasee 0

At Plymouth

Singles:

#1. Alex Kizer (P) beat Cam Reel 1-6, 6-4, 6-4

#2. Brice Hoover (P) beat Brock Shipley 4-0, 4-0

#3. Liam Hanyzewski (P) beat Borck Shipley 4-3(4), 3-4(0), 10-4

Doubles:

#1. Hayden Feldman-Drake Feece (P) beat Finley Miller-Collin Hackleman 4-0, 4-2

#2. Tyler Travis-Landon Tyler (P) beat Finley Miller-Collin Hackleman 4-0, 3-4(5), 10-8 3. Austin Price-Peyton Hamood (P) beat Van Jessol-Winson Farrington 4-3(1), 4-0 4. Jonah Rich-Benson Prater (P) beat Van Jessol-Winson Farrington 4-1, 4-1