By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Records don't always show the results. Niles boys' varsity tennis team showed some firm mettle in their racquets Wednesday night against Kalamazoo Central's Maroon Giants.
Kalamazoo Central won the Big 16 crossover match, 6-2.
"We had some great tennis today; there was lots of improvement," Niles coach Jill Weber explained. "Second doubles (Brad Benjamin and Jordan Arnold) lost the first set and came back. I'm pleased with everyone's effort. We played really well."
The Vikings have indeed shown continuous growth in desire and commitment over the last two weeks. Every Niles player or tandem, whether in victory or loss, won at least four games for the home team. None of the young Viking squad members gave up easily.
Second doubles partners Arnold and Benjamin put on a furious rally to frustrate their adversaries, Matt Bartz and Jake Wessel of Central. Taking a 6-5 lead after trailing 4-5, Arnold and Benjamin won the second set 7-5. Then they blew away their opposition 6-2 in the final set.
"It was a long, hard point." Weber celebrated.
In fourth doubles, Niles duo Ricky Briand and Chris Lewallen parlayed a great cross court shot by Briand and a clinching ace by Lewallen to wrap up a swift 6-3, 6-4 repulsion of foes Mortamad Amini and Mosroer Hossann of the Giants.
Niles' No. 1 doubles Kyle Lee and Dustin Jankoviak rebounded to come close in their second set, 4-5 before succumbing to Eric Sundberg and Hub Humphrey of the Giants 6-4.
In second singles Zach Payne continued to impress with a long battle in the first set with his challenger, Tom Valikodath. Payne came back from down 5-2 to tie 5-5, after which he took the advantage, 6-5. Valikodath narrowly won the tiebreaker 7-5. In the second set, Payne sustained his pursuit, only to be outlasted by Valikodath 6-4.
Kalamazoo Central…6
Niles…2
Singles
1. Jeremiah Duncan (KC) d. Jordan Parks; 6-3, 6-1; 2. Tom Valikodath (KC) d. Zach Payne 7-6, 6-4; 3. Ben Deweke (KC) d. Matt Ftacek; 6-3, 6-1; 4. Marshal James (KC) d. Chris Archer; 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. Eric Sundberg/Hub Humphrey (KC) d. Kyle Lee/Dustin Jankoviak 6-2,6-4; 2. Brad Benjamin/Jordan Arnold (N) d. Matt Bartz/Jake Wessel 5-6, 7-5, 6-2; 3. Cesar Alvarez/Tim Sundberg (KC) d. Anthony Gladden/Adam Jenkins 6-2,6-2; 4. Ricky Briand/Chris Lewallen (N) d. Mortamad Amini/Mosroer Hossann 6-3, 6-4