Thursday, April 06, 2000
Walnut Hills boys defend top ranking
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Walnut Hills boys tennis team solidified its No.1 preseason ranking by defeating No.2 Sycamore 3-2 Wednesday.
Eric Thomas (No.1 singles), Jonathan Khoury (No.3) and the No.1 doubles team of Daniel Smith and Evan Klein-Riffle registered victories for the Eagles.
“We were pumped and ready to play,” Khoury said after clinching the victory with a 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 win over Sycamore's Bryan Pittman.
“We went into Monday's match against Anderson a little overconfi dent. They (Anderson) made us work hard, and that's why we were focused today.”
Sycamore played without starters Marshall Kuresman and Brent Hodgson.
“Give (Walnut Hills) credit,” Sycamore coach Dave Tanner said. “They won the matches they had to, and I don't want to take anything away from them.”
If Kuresman had played, the Sycamore senior would have been at No.3 singles, and Pittman would have moved to No.1 doubles, matches the Aviators lost.
“Marshall has been out sick the past six days and won't be back for at least another week,” Tanner said. “He was here today but didn't look good.”
One key for Walnut Hills was Thomas' win over Sycamore sophomore James Tyler 6-4, 6-3.
“I fell behind 4-1 in the first set before I started playing my game,” Thomas said. “Because of the strong wind, I started putting a topspin on the ball.”
Thomas gave Walnut Hills a 1-0 lead with the 55-minute victory over Tyler.
Moments later, the score was 1-1 after Sycamore's No.2 doubles team of Steven Jarnicki and Justin Cohen came through with a victory.
Smith and Klein-Riffle, the Eagles' No.1 doubles team, put Walnut Hills into a 2-1 lead, but both the singles matches went into a third set.
Khoury, a junior who played No.2 singles last year, was up to the task.
After falling behind 3-1 in the third set, he continued to attack while Pittman appeared to go into defensive mode.
“I didn't know what had happened in the other matches and that the outcome was on the line,” Khoury said. “I just wanted to remain focused on the match.”
Sports Stories
Bichette taking bad with good
BREWERS 8, REDS 5
Harnisch moved up to start Friday
REDS NOTEBOOK
Akili throws with no pain in toe
Dillon shopping to Ravens, Chiefs
XU, Temple vie for forward Brooks
