July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
By By RAY COONEY-
Not even the toughest team on the schedule could slow down Kyle Simmons.
Playing in his final home match Tuesday, the senior ran his winning streak to 14 matches. It was the lone win of the night for the Jay County High School boys tennis team, which often played well but still lost 6-1 to the visiting Delta Eagles.
Simmons lost his first three matches of the season before coming alive for wins in his final two matches at the DeKalb Invitational. Since then, he has been as close to an automatic win as the Patriots could expect.
Riding a 14-match winning streak, Simmons built a 6-2, first-set lead of Jordan Chambers the perennial powerhouse Eagles. Chambers claimed the next two games at No. 2 singles, but Simmons ended the set on his serve thanks in part to some outstanding play at the net.
He built a 5-1 lead in the second set, and again made good on his serve to close out the match. Simmons played his usual style, constantly chasing down the ball and getting Chambers to make errors - one into the net and one long - for the final two points.
"After 0-3, now it's 14," said Weaver of Simmons' impressive run. "That's just really a tribute to his athleticism and his ability to keep his head in the game."
Weaver said despite the losses at every other position - the teams agreed to play seven varsity matches Tuesday as opposed to the usual five - he was happy with the way his team performed.
The Patriots won at least one game in every set, totaling 23 in the remaining six matches.
"When all is said and done ... you have to take care of what you know how to do," said Weaver. "I was really happy tonight because of the most part we were able to play our game. ... That's what I'm more worried about, continuing to improve and get better each match."
Chase Wellman, who is second only to Simmons in wins for Jay County this year, pushed Caleb Austin of the Eagles at No. 3 singles.
Wellman pushed out to 5-2 lead, but couldn't close out the opening set. Austin the next two games, and evened the set at 5-5 by breaking Wellman's serve at love.
Austin eventually won five straight games to rally and take the first set. Wellman again won the opening game of the second set, but dropped six of the next seven in a 7-5, 6-2 defeat.
Despite the loss, Wellman, playing his first full year of varsity tennis, is 10-7.
"Chase's game is made for No. 3," said Weaver. "He's not an overpowering hitter. He's just a defensive specialist who keeps the ball in play ... and lets the other guy make the mistake.
"He's been a real pleasant find at No. 3 singles. That's been a real plus."
Sam Miller and Tylor Smith, also a pair of first-year players, picked up five games at No. 2 doubles.
They trailed John Rauchenstein and Jared Bullock just 4-3 in the first set before giving up back-to-back games.
They again were down just 3-2 in the second before falling 6-4, 6-3.
"Like Tylor said when he came off (the court), 'I think the last two or three matches we've really learned how to play tennis.'" Weaver said. "And I think he's right. ... I'm real happy with their progress ... especially compared to where they were six weeks ago."
Jared Valentine and Adam Horn lost 6-3, 6-1 to Tate Dishman and Ethan Grove at No. 1 doubles. In the No. 3 doubles match, Chance Fuller and Jordan McBride lost 6-2, 6-1 to Aaron Williams and Tad Dorton.
Phil Powell (No. 1 singles) and Joe Imel (No. 4 singles) each lost by 6-1, 6-1 cores to Ben Bryan and Youngwoo Han respectively.
Junior varsity
Jay County dropped all seven matches to the Eagles as each Patriot took the court twice.
The doubles team of Brad Leuthold and Tony Schwieterman played the closest match, falling 8-4 to Austin Lemna and Matt Fischer. Austin Cowan and Seth Ainsworth fell 8-3 in doubles action to Josh Hapner and Zach Richardson.
In the other doubles match, Schwieterman and Matt Shack fell 8-1 to Matt Irwin and Evan Dawson.
Singles action saw Leuthold fall 8-1 to Bond St. John, Ainsworth lose 8-1 to Brock Windsor, Cowan take an 8-1 defeat against Alex Zimmerman and Shrack fall 8-0 against Drew Owen.[[In-content Ad]]
Playing in his final home match Tuesday, the senior ran his winning streak to 14 matches. It was the lone win of the night for the Jay County High School boys tennis team, which often played well but still lost 6-1 to the visiting Delta Eagles.
Simmons lost his first three matches of the season before coming alive for wins in his final two matches at the DeKalb Invitational. Since then, he has been as close to an automatic win as the Patriots could expect.
Riding a 14-match winning streak, Simmons built a 6-2, first-set lead of Jordan Chambers the perennial powerhouse Eagles. Chambers claimed the next two games at No. 2 singles, but Simmons ended the set on his serve thanks in part to some outstanding play at the net.
He built a 5-1 lead in the second set, and again made good on his serve to close out the match. Simmons played his usual style, constantly chasing down the ball and getting Chambers to make errors - one into the net and one long - for the final two points.
"After 0-3, now it's 14," said Weaver of Simmons' impressive run. "That's just really a tribute to his athleticism and his ability to keep his head in the game."
Weaver said despite the losses at every other position - the teams agreed to play seven varsity matches Tuesday as opposed to the usual five - he was happy with the way his team performed.
The Patriots won at least one game in every set, totaling 23 in the remaining six matches.
"When all is said and done ... you have to take care of what you know how to do," said Weaver. "I was really happy tonight because of the most part we were able to play our game. ... That's what I'm more worried about, continuing to improve and get better each match."
Chase Wellman, who is second only to Simmons in wins for Jay County this year, pushed Caleb Austin of the Eagles at No. 3 singles.
Wellman pushed out to 5-2 lead, but couldn't close out the opening set. Austin the next two games, and evened the set at 5-5 by breaking Wellman's serve at love.
Austin eventually won five straight games to rally and take the first set. Wellman again won the opening game of the second set, but dropped six of the next seven in a 7-5, 6-2 defeat.
Despite the loss, Wellman, playing his first full year of varsity tennis, is 10-7.
"Chase's game is made for No. 3," said Weaver. "He's not an overpowering hitter. He's just a defensive specialist who keeps the ball in play ... and lets the other guy make the mistake.
"He's been a real pleasant find at No. 3 singles. That's been a real plus."
Sam Miller and Tylor Smith, also a pair of first-year players, picked up five games at No. 2 doubles.
They trailed John Rauchenstein and Jared Bullock just 4-3 in the first set before giving up back-to-back games.
They again were down just 3-2 in the second before falling 6-4, 6-3.
"Like Tylor said when he came off (the court), 'I think the last two or three matches we've really learned how to play tennis.'" Weaver said. "And I think he's right. ... I'm real happy with their progress ... especially compared to where they were six weeks ago."
Jared Valentine and Adam Horn lost 6-3, 6-1 to Tate Dishman and Ethan Grove at No. 1 doubles. In the No. 3 doubles match, Chance Fuller and Jordan McBride lost 6-2, 6-1 to Aaron Williams and Tad Dorton.
Phil Powell (No. 1 singles) and Joe Imel (No. 4 singles) each lost by 6-1, 6-1 cores to Ben Bryan and Youngwoo Han respectively.
Junior varsity
Jay County dropped all seven matches to the Eagles as each Patriot took the court twice.
The doubles team of Brad Leuthold and Tony Schwieterman played the closest match, falling 8-4 to Austin Lemna and Matt Fischer. Austin Cowan and Seth Ainsworth fell 8-3 in doubles action to Josh Hapner and Zach Richardson.
In the other doubles match, Schwieterman and Matt Shack fell 8-1 to Matt Irwin and Evan Dawson.
Singles action saw Leuthold fall 8-1 to Bond St. John, Ainsworth lose 8-1 to Brock Windsor, Cowan take an 8-1 defeat against Alex Zimmerman and Shrack fall 8-0 against Drew Owen.[[In-content Ad]]
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