Sailors encounter rough seas

Bryce Alderton

The most anticipated match of the year thus far for the Newport

Harbor High boys tennis team quickly turned into an uphill climb

against a familiar nemesis and one Mother Nature eventually decided

to cut short.

Welcome to a stormy Thursday in the Sea View League.

Visiting Woodbridge, which has won at least a share of the last

four league titles, struck early for a 5-1 lead and, as showers began

to fall in the third set, notched its 10th point to earn an

abbreviated 10-4 triumph over Newport Harbor.

Senior Charlie Farmer and junior Ruslan Serydyk won two sets for

the Sailors (9-4, 3-1 in league), who have not defeated Woodbridge

(12-3, 4-0), ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division I, in

Coach Jeff Thomsen’s three-season tenure.

“They took it to us in our house,” Thomsen said. “I expected us to

hold serve and we didn’t. Once our guys get behind, it is tough to

come back. We don’t play well from behind.”

The Sailors claimed three victories to get within, 8-4, after two

rounds, but Woodbridge’s doubles teams of Nick Grishkoff and Barand

Mitten, as well as Salim Nawaey and Kian Fattahi each won their

respective sets, 6-1, to make the match official.

Thomsen and Woodbridge Coach Rick Barth agreed to halt play to

prevent possible injuries related to the slippery surface.

Sophomore Robert Khoury, last season’s league singles champion,

and the doubles team of Tyler Deck and Dylan Espley-Jones each won

one set for the Sailors while freshman Jake Fleming valiantly fought

against his two singles opponents only to fall short. Mike McClune

and Shimpei Suzuki each claimed 6-4 victories over Fleming.

In the first round, Fleming trailed Suzuki, 5-2, before pulling

within 5-4. Suzuki had two match points before lobbing a backhand

volley over Fleming, who was near the service line, for the clincher.

Fleming took a 4-1 lead in the second round against McClune, who

won five straight games to take the set.

Khoury fought back from a 5-1 deficit to tie Suzuki, 5-5, in the

third round when the rain began to fall.

“My guys battled to get to the end, but the rain put a halt to

that,” Thomsen said. “We were fired up to play the match and are

disappointed with the result. We have to be more aggressive. We

didn’t hit enough first serves in and had too many unforced errors.

We looked tight in the first set and got behind the eight ball so to

speak.”

Barth was relieved to escape with the win after scrambling to find

a third singles player. Mark Sheiness took a ball to the eye during

warmups, so Reid Kaufman got the start.

“This was important,” Barth said. “Newport is a very tough team.

[The Sailors’] singles players are very good.”

Thomsen said his team can play “with anyone,” and was already

marking April 29 on the calendar. That is when Woodbridge hosts

Newport in the final league match.

“Our short-term goal is to [win league],” Thomsen said. “Now there

is pressure on us to perform. I hope this makes us better.”

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Sea View League

Woodbridge 10, Newport Harbor 4

Singles -- Khoury (NH) lost to McClune, 2-6, tied with Suzuki, 5-5, def. Kaufman, 6-0; Fleming (NH) lost, 4-6, 4-6; Chase (NH) lost to Suzuki, 0-6, lost to Kaufman, 1-6. Doubles -- Deck/Espley-Jones (NH) lost to Fattahi-Nawaey, 2-6, leading

Calderon-Loney, 4-3, def. Mitton-Desatnik, 6-2; Casserly-Davis (NH) lost, 1-6, 0-6, lost to Mitton-Grishkoff, 1-6; Serydyk-Farmer lost, 1-6, won, 6-3, 6-4.

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