By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Just when it looked as if the Dowagiac varsity tennis team was going to pick up its first victory of the season, Niles slammed the door on the Chieftains.
Dowagiac got off to a quick start, winning two flights and leading in the other two as the No. 3 and No. 4 singles and doubles teams opened up competition.
The Vikings, who had won two straight matches coming into the Big 16 Conference West Division contest, rallied to win at No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles to square the match at 2-2.
From there it was nip and tuck with neither team holding much of an advantage.
In the end, Niles won three out of the four singles matches and split the doubles matches for a 5-3 victory.
Dowagiac coach Curtis Partee was less than happy with his team's performance against the Vikings.
Hoff was the lone winner in singles (No. 3) for the Chieftains as he defeated Nick Neumann, 6-3 and 6-1.
Carlson lost at No. 1 to Ari Fernandez, 4-6 and 3-6.
The Vikings' victories in doubles came at No. 3 where Jon Poole and Skyler Mudd defeated Kyle Kowalski and Henry Krohne, 4-6, 6-0 and 6-3 and at No. 2 were Jonathan Smith and Jeff Pugh won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 over Jon Woosley and Aaron Wilson.
In junior varsity action on Monday, Kevin Simpson lost 1-8, Jon Mitchell lost 1-8, Josh Rodgers lost 6-8 and Satakun Tanthaweeviwat lost 0-8 in singles play.
In doubles action, Micah Null and Kevin Billingham lost 0-8, Hunter Topping and Josh Jerz lost 0-8, Deshaun Baylock and Andy Ausra lost 0-8 and Richard Reese and Justin Canniff lost 0-8.
Dowagiac will return to action on Wednesday when it hosts Lakeshore in another Big 16 Conference West Division match.
Niles…5
Dowagiac…3
Singles
Ari Fernandez (N) d. Adam Carlson 6-4, 6-3; 2. Colin Smith (N) d. David Maxey 6-1, 6-4; 3. Nate Fink (N) d. Sonny Swartz 5-7, 6-2, 6-2; Mike Hoff (D) d. Nick Neumann 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
1. Josue Miranda/Mike DeRose (D) d. Dan Rodts/Julian Freas 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; 2. Jon Woosley/Aaron Wilson (D) d. Jonathan Smith/Jeff Pugh 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5); 3. Jon Poole/Skyler Mudd (N) d. Kyle Kowalski/Henry Krohne 4-6, 6-0, 6-3; 4. Tyler Cook/Andrew Cuthbert (D) d. Levi Grooms/Mark Neeser 6-4, 6-2