Another OAC victory (08/31/07)

One of the Jay County High School's boys tennis team's goals this year is an outright OAC title. So far, it has put on a good showing.

Although this week's matches don't count toward the Olympic Athletic Conference championship, the Patriots still sent a message with a 5-0 win against Muncie Southside Tuesday followed by Thursday's 4-1 triumph over the Anderson Highland Scots.

"It feels good to beat Highland," said JCHS coach Barry Weaver, whose team lost to the Scots twice last year. "Now if we can turn around and do it again next Saturday, that'll be the one we really want."

All four OAC teams will gather for the Olympic Athletic Conference tournament Saturday, Sept. 8, at Muncie Southside.

Jay County's Adam Horn and Mark Alberson weren't on the court long Thursday as they gathered up yet another victory. They rolled through the first set, got a big slam from Alberson to take a 40-15 lead in the sixth game of the second set and clobbered Ian Frazier and Trent Stephens 6-0, 6-0.

Alberson and Horn were off the court before some of the other matches even completed the first set as they improved to 8-0 on the season.

"They thought their weakness was that they played to the ability of their opponents," said Weaver. "Tonight, for the first or second time this year, they played at their (own) ability.

"They compliment each other pretty well."

Although it came with a bit more of a struggle, the Patriots (4-1) took the No. 1 doubles match as well.

Jay County's Thomas McCowan and Heath Rigby dropped the first game, took a 2-1 lead and then traded back and forth with the Scots' Eric Ray and Taylor Williams. The Patriot pair had a 5-4 lead and a chance to close out the first set, but Ray and Williams turned the tables to go up 6-5.

After McCowan served to even the score and force a tiebreaker, Jay County fell behind 2-0 and 5-3 with the set on the line. But a Rigby slam got the Patriots going and they won the final four points of the tiebreaker on the way to a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory.

At No. 2 singles Phil Powell struggled to end a marathon first game against James Davis, but finally managed to take the 1-0 lead and controlled the rest of the match. He went up 3-0 in the opening set and had a 4-1 lead in the second in his 6-3, 6-3 victory.

The win was the third in a row for Powell after an 0-4 start to the season.

"All of them I think are doing some good things," said Weaver. "No. 1 doubles played sporadic in the first set and then came around in the tiebreaker and carried over into the second set.

"They're starting to hit some stride. I hope it continues to get stronger.

"Phil really is starting to show the things he did last year. But now he's also hitting the ball harder."

Weaver also pointed to added strength as a key for Josh Ludy, who is undefeated in dual matches this year and 7-1 overall. He had difficulties at times Thursday against Zac Welborn, but still walked away with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

"Outside of some real small two- or three-game lapses, he's been playing really solid, smart tennis," said Weaver of Ludy, whose only loss came at the DeKalb Invitational. "He's hitting the ball where he wants to hit it."

Slowed by an injury, Kyle Simmons managed to take the first set at No. 3 singles before falling 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to Mitchell Phillips.

Junior varsity

Jay County's Chase Wellman and Jared Valentine teamed to win both matches against the Scots.

They fought off Nick Phillips and Kyle Laughlin in a tiebreaker for an 8-7 (7-5) victory, then defeated Kyle Dykes and Caleb Rogers 8-4.[[In-content Ad]]