After matches being postponed for different reasons, the Cheney High School boys tennis team finally started off the season with a 6-1 win over Lakeside on March 20.
“It was definitely a good start,” head coach Jesse Erickson said. “We are looking strong and we have a great group of guys. Overall, I was really pleased with our first match.”
Senior Dixon Gerber started off singles competition at the No. 1 spot by defeating Jacob Spence 6-4, 6-1. Senior Hunter Pohl continued that success in the second singles spot with a win over Andrew Mitchell, 6-3, 7-5.
“Dixon got off to an early start and he has improved a lot on his serve,” Erickson said. “Hunter was really steady his first set and was taking advantage of his opponent’s errors. He played consistent. He was down 5-2 in the second set, but came back and won five straight.”
In No. 3 singles, senior Aaron Fillmore won 6-3, 6-4 over Danny Flynn. Junior Logan Ray wrapped up singles competition in the fourth position by defeating Jonas Talley 6-4, 6-1.
“Aaron was hitting some crisp volleys,” Erickson said. “He came to play and it was very good to see. Logan played his first singles match and once he felt confident, he came through and was aggressive at the net.”
On the doubles side, Jared Adams and Ayden Henderson fell to Brandon Gann and Ryley Ourada 7-5, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot.
“They were really aggressive at the net,” Erickson said. “Unfortunately they couldn’t rebound from being down.”
John Laufenburger and Alex Rose competed at No. 2 doubles and defeated Nate Flynn and Ethan Whitmer 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. Jairus Kuhn and Trevor Stewart rounded off doubles competition at the third position by defeating Luke Dallabetta and Corbin Meyring 6-3, 3-6, 11-9. Stewart also injured his dominate right hand and had to play with his left the whole match.
“In the No. 2 spot, both players are freshman and to have them come out and close out the first set was good,” Erickson said. “I was pleased that they were more aggressive at the net. The best thing I saw was a lot of deuce points and they kept their cool. For our No. 3 spot, they were both new players. They communicated well and we had great play from both of them.”
The Blackhawks also played Mount Spokane on March 21 and lost 7-0.
“We knew Mt. Spokane would be tough,” Erickson said. “Our team played hard and our effort was there. It was a good match.”
Cheney brings in a 12-man roster for the spring season that includes five seniors, Ruslan Chernega, Fillmore, Gerber, Kuhn and Pohl. Four juniors, Adams, Daniel Lamas, Ray and Stewart, are also on the squad. The only sophomore on the team is Ayden Henderson with two freshmen Laufenburger and Rose.
The Blackhawks took on Medical Lake on Wednesday, March 28 and play again today at North Central. League competition begins April 10 at Pullman.
“We just have to make sure we keep improving,” Erickson said.
Grace Pohl can be reached at grace@cheneyfreepress.com.
“We just have to make sure we keep improving,”
Cheney head coach Jesse Erickson
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