Van Nuys: Two-Fisted Title

It was definitely better the second time around for the Van Nuys High boys’ tennis team.

Playing in their second consecutive City Section 3-A Division final, the Wolves defeated Eagle Rock, 16 1/2-13, on Friday at the Studio City Racquet Centre to make up for last season’s final-match loss to Kennedy.

“This is wonderful,” said senior Brad Herman, who teamed with sophomore Peter Kung at No. 1 doubles to record Van Nuys’ only sweep.

“To come out here and win this in my last high school match, and to know that I contributed this much, is wonderful.”

Herman and Kung rallied from a 2-1 deficit in their final set, winning five of the last six games for a 6-3 victory over Eagle Rock’s No. 2 team of Hoa Diep and John Paul Saldua to clinch the title.

“We worked together very well today,” Kung said. “We wanted to win this and everyone tried to play at their peak for this match.”

Herman and Kung defeated Eagle Rock’s top doubles team of James Lee and Roy Janichuti, 6-2, and routed the No. 3 team of Sergio Osio and Lloyd Eppie, 6-1.

Van Nuys’ No. 2 doubles team of Glendon Woo and Ming Lo and the No. 3 team of Jake Chiang and Alex Mangu each won two of three sets as Van Nuys won seven of nine sets in doubles.

“It’s just been a solid team effort,” Van Nuys Coach Jim Buck said. “But for our doubles, these guys have really risen to the occasion.”

Van Nuys (16-1) forged a 5 1/2-1 lead that held up even though the Wolves dropped 11 of 16 singles sets and five of seven sets in the last rotation.

“We knew we had it won and on top of that there was fatigue and it was very hot, but it was good to finally get the win,” said No. 1 singles player Gregg Choe, who lost to the top two players from Eagle Rock (15-2), but beat No. 3 Bao Nguyen, 7-5, and No. 4 Cong Nguyen, 6-0.

Van Nuys’ only loss was to City 4-A runner-up Granada Hills during the regular season.

Palisades 21 1/2, Granada Hills 8--The Highlanders lost to the Dolphins for the second consecutive year in the 4-A Division final.

Granada Hills (13-1) won only two of 16 singles sets and took four of nine doubles sets.

Palisades (15-0), which has won three consecutive championships and and 12 of the past 18, got four-set sweeps by their top three singles players.

“They’re awfully strong,” Granada Hills Coach Ron Wood said. “You’ve got to give them credit. We’re the second-best team in the City, and we’re not going to hang our heads.

“I know what Custer felt like now, though.”

Evan Press and Ashwin Reddy posted singles victories for Granada Hills, with Press hanging on for a 6-4 win over Palisades’ No. 4 player Ricky Rollins, and Reddy beating Rollins, 6-3.

“It’s just tough to play them,” Press said of the Dolphins. “We were overmatched but that last set really ended things on a good note for me.”