July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Jay Co. slides by Indians for 3-2 victory (08/26/03)
JCHS tennis
Jay Co. slides by Indians for 3-2 victory (08/26/03)
UNION CITY — The excitement was not so much in the team outcome, but in the tremendous effort offered after the result was already decided.
The Jay County tennis team improved to 2-1 with a 3-2 victory over the Union City Indians Monday. But, the match had already long since been decided when the Patriots’ Derek Powell and Union City’s Josh Lea were still unleashing all-out desire — each player willing to charge the net, or chase down any forehand, backhand, volley or lob which was thrown at them.
Jay County won quick matches at No. 1 singles and both doubles positions to take the quick victory, but the other two matches of the night went to three sets. And Lea’s 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win over Powell was a gem.
“He had had some tough matches at the (Southside) Invitational over the weekend,” said Union City coach Jeff Clark of Lea. “I thought he was ready to step up.”
Powell took a 6-3 win in the first set after trailing 3-2. From there the pair began to hold their audience captive.
A fabulous second set saw fans from both teams cheering shots by both players mostly because of their awesome hustle on every point. Lea took the set in a 7-2 in the tiebreaker, and the third set seemed destined to go in the same direction.
The third set was on serve through the first five games, as neither player was willing to give an inch while they were in control.
Finally, Lea made something happen, earning a break point try in the sixth game. Powell dropped the point, knocking a shot into the net to give Lea a 4-2 lead.
Then Lea did his job by holding serve in the seventh game, and the disadvantage was too much for Jay County’s senior to overcome. Tied at 30-30 in the eighth game, Powell double faulted his way to a match point and then knocked a shot into the net as Lea took the comeback win.
“That break was a really big momentum booster in the third set,” said Clark. “That had a big psychological impact.”
“I don’t know what got into Derek,” said Jay County coach Barry Weaver. “He didn’t hit the ball as well in the third as he did in the first set. Still, it was a good match. He’s a smart kid, and he’ll learn from that.”
The second set was a back and forth battle, with Powell holding leads of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 before Lea turned the tables. He won each of the next two games to take the advantage.
Powell managed to even the score at 5-5, but had to do so with a great slice from the net after Lea chased down shots all over the court. Lea pulled back ahead 6-5 only to have Powell tie it up again after he got a ball to skip just over the net and was granted a rare unforced error from the Union City No. 2 singles player.
Lea then created one of the two turning points to take the match in his favor as he dominated the tie-breaker. The pair split the first two points before Lea won five in a row — all on unforced errors — to take the set and force the third.
Despite the late defeat for Powell, Jay County cruised to the team victory with three quick and decisive wins.
Kurtis Hess (5-1) wasted little time with Adam Brouse at No. 1 singles, chasing him all over the court. He finished a sweep through the first set on a couple of unforced errors by Brouse, and gave up just one game in the second in the 6-0, 6-1 win.
The doubles teams also had their way with Union City, giving up just three games combined in partner play.
Tyler Rigby and Randy Evans earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles, finishing both sets on doubles faults by the Indians. Chip Feazel and Adam Paxson rolled over Travis Hufford and Steve Baker 6-0, 6-2.
“I thought those guys were strong,” said Weaver. “They stayed focused. Sometimes in those [easier] matches you can lose your focus.”
The Patriots lost the other three-set match on the evening as Union City’s Jon Moore rallied past Wil Goodrich.
Goodrich controlled the first set for a 6-2 win, but began to unravel in the second. After leading 2-1 in the second set, he won just a single game the rest of the way as Moore earned the 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory.
“We’re learning some valuable lessons in the close matches we’re playing,” said Weaver. “Sometimes you learn just as much with a close match that goes the other way as you do with the ones where you steam roll.”
Jay County will look for another win at Northeastern Thursday at 4:30 p.m. before returning to play all four Olympic Athletic Conference matches on their home court. They will begin OAC play with a double-header against Connersville and Huntington North Saturday at 10 a.m.
Junior varsity
The Patriots also dominated junior varsity play Monday, winning both matches without giving up a game.
Matthew Peterson hammered Jameson Lipps 8-0 at No. 1 singles to lead the JV squad to a 2-1 record. Travis Smith and Jeff Sims blasted Tim Stewart and Nathan Henry by the same score.[[In-content Ad]]
The Jay County tennis team improved to 2-1 with a 3-2 victory over the Union City Indians Monday. But, the match had already long since been decided when the Patriots’ Derek Powell and Union City’s Josh Lea were still unleashing all-out desire — each player willing to charge the net, or chase down any forehand, backhand, volley or lob which was thrown at them.
Jay County won quick matches at No. 1 singles and both doubles positions to take the quick victory, but the other two matches of the night went to three sets. And Lea’s 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win over Powell was a gem.
“He had had some tough matches at the (Southside) Invitational over the weekend,” said Union City coach Jeff Clark of Lea. “I thought he was ready to step up.”
Powell took a 6-3 win in the first set after trailing 3-2. From there the pair began to hold their audience captive.
A fabulous second set saw fans from both teams cheering shots by both players mostly because of their awesome hustle on every point. Lea took the set in a 7-2 in the tiebreaker, and the third set seemed destined to go in the same direction.
The third set was on serve through the first five games, as neither player was willing to give an inch while they were in control.
Finally, Lea made something happen, earning a break point try in the sixth game. Powell dropped the point, knocking a shot into the net to give Lea a 4-2 lead.
Then Lea did his job by holding serve in the seventh game, and the disadvantage was too much for Jay County’s senior to overcome. Tied at 30-30 in the eighth game, Powell double faulted his way to a match point and then knocked a shot into the net as Lea took the comeback win.
“That break was a really big momentum booster in the third set,” said Clark. “That had a big psychological impact.”
“I don’t know what got into Derek,” said Jay County coach Barry Weaver. “He didn’t hit the ball as well in the third as he did in the first set. Still, it was a good match. He’s a smart kid, and he’ll learn from that.”
The second set was a back and forth battle, with Powell holding leads of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 before Lea turned the tables. He won each of the next two games to take the advantage.
Powell managed to even the score at 5-5, but had to do so with a great slice from the net after Lea chased down shots all over the court. Lea pulled back ahead 6-5 only to have Powell tie it up again after he got a ball to skip just over the net and was granted a rare unforced error from the Union City No. 2 singles player.
Lea then created one of the two turning points to take the match in his favor as he dominated the tie-breaker. The pair split the first two points before Lea won five in a row — all on unforced errors — to take the set and force the third.
Despite the late defeat for Powell, Jay County cruised to the team victory with three quick and decisive wins.
Kurtis Hess (5-1) wasted little time with Adam Brouse at No. 1 singles, chasing him all over the court. He finished a sweep through the first set on a couple of unforced errors by Brouse, and gave up just one game in the second in the 6-0, 6-1 win.
The doubles teams also had their way with Union City, giving up just three games combined in partner play.
Tyler Rigby and Randy Evans earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles, finishing both sets on doubles faults by the Indians. Chip Feazel and Adam Paxson rolled over Travis Hufford and Steve Baker 6-0, 6-2.
“I thought those guys were strong,” said Weaver. “They stayed focused. Sometimes in those [easier] matches you can lose your focus.”
The Patriots lost the other three-set match on the evening as Union City’s Jon Moore rallied past Wil Goodrich.
Goodrich controlled the first set for a 6-2 win, but began to unravel in the second. After leading 2-1 in the second set, he won just a single game the rest of the way as Moore earned the 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory.
“We’re learning some valuable lessons in the close matches we’re playing,” said Weaver. “Sometimes you learn just as much with a close match that goes the other way as you do with the ones where you steam roll.”
Jay County will look for another win at Northeastern Thursday at 4:30 p.m. before returning to play all four Olympic Athletic Conference matches on their home court. They will begin OAC play with a double-header against Connersville and Huntington North Saturday at 10 a.m.
Junior varsity
The Patriots also dominated junior varsity play Monday, winning both matches without giving up a game.
Matthew Peterson hammered Jameson Lipps 8-0 at No. 1 singles to lead the JV squad to a 2-1 record. Travis Smith and Jeff Sims blasted Tim Stewart and Nathan Henry by the same score.[[In-content Ad]]
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