Snow steps in

Their coach was home sick.

Half of their No. 1 doubles duo was sidelined.

For the Patriots, it just didn’t matter.

Nick Snow smoothly slid into the open No. 1 doubles spot and the Jay County High School boys tennis team didn’t need much advice Wednesday as it swiftly secured the three points it needed to advance on the way to a 4-1 sectional semifinal victory over the Union City Indians.

“We won against them the first time we played them this year, so I really felt pretty confident we could win again,” said JCHS assistant coach Andrea Garringer, filling in for the ailing Donald Gillespie.

Though she did admit concern about the change at No. 1 doubles, with Snow joining Alex Miller. That worry was for naught.

“I thought that they played well together,” she said. “I thought they were communicating well. … Alex has been really well up at the net. … Nick’s serves were going in. I just thought they played well together.”

The Patriots advance to play Randolph Southern at 5 p.m. Thursday as they seek their fourth consecutive sectional championship. The Rebels pulled a slight upset to advance, knocking off Winchester 3-2 in Wednesday’s other semifinal after losing to its county rival twice previously this season.

Snow, a sophomore and first-year tennis player, was thrust into the lineup Wednesday after Alex Miller’s regular partner Kadyn Carpenter hurt his ankle while playing basketball.

The change made little difference, as Miller and Snow made quick work of Union City juniors Charles Beam and Kolton Shelby. They blitzed through the first set in a hurry and were off the courts in just 38 minutes, hitting winners left and right and dominating at the net. A Miller winner that split Beam and Shelby ended the blowout.

“I was just kind of ready,” said Snow, who had played in one varsity match this season. “I knew he might not be able to play today. I got the call last night. …

“I was out here right after school … warming up … and locking in.”

“We were really just getting them over the net and making them make the errors,” he added. “And then playing up on the net as well.”

As he walked off the court Wednesday night, Snow wasn’t sure if he’d be back Thursday or if Carpenter would be available to return. Either way, he was happy to be able to contribute to what the Patriots hope will be another sectional title.

“Anything that helps the team,” said Snow. “Anything that I can do that helps the team is really what I’m here for.”

Paul Dirksen walked off the court a minute later with another 6-0, 6-0 victory for the Patriots. The freshman No. 1 singles player did essentially whatever he wanted against Union City junior Gabriel Thomas, who played at the No. 3 spot when the teams met in August.

“He's just a strong player overall,” Garringer said.

A win at No. 2 doubles secured a spot in the sectional final for the Patriots. Up 5-2 in the second set, Gabe Overton double faulted on his opening serve. But he and teammate Brock Wasson didn’t have to do much after that as they earned the next four points off of Union City errors to beat Gabriel Tapp and Asa Vaughn 6-1, 6-2.

“We came with the understanding that this was probably what the outcome was going to be,” said UCHS coach Charlie LaFuze, whose team lost 5-0 to Jay County during the regular season.

It took Henry Dirksen some time to get going, but he was able to overcome Luis Nieto at No. 2 singles. He dropped the first set to Nieto, who played at No. 1 in the first meeting, before rallying for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 triumph.

The lone loss for the Patriots came at No. 3 singles, where Clark Wellman fell 6-1, 6-3 to Levi Clark.