Crescenta Valley boys’ tennis loses season by one game
It was a rather simple equation that decided Crescenta Valley High’s CIF Southern Section Division II first-round matchup at Valencia Valencia.
It was the strength of the Falcons’ singles matching up with the might of the Vikings’ doubles.
When each side buckled but once, math was brought into the picture.
Crescenta Valley won eight of nine singles sets, while Valencia countered with eight victories in the doubles draw.
And after the match ended with a tie in sets, games were tallied and it all added up to the conclusion of the Falcons’ season, as they lost Wednesday in the first round to the Vikings, 9-9 (81-80).
“It was our singles against their doubles,” Falcons Coach Sam Hyun said. “Their doubles was really sharp and our singles was just a little better.”
Both teams entered Wednesday’sfirst round having advanced to the second round last season and having finished second in their respective leagues this season.
To say things stayed even would be an understatement, as Crescenta Valley (11-6), which finished behind Arcadia in the Pacific League, was deadlocked with Valencia (13-8), which trailed West Ranch in the Foothill League, at 3-3 following the first round.
The Vikings gained a 7-5 lead after the second round thanks to their only singles win, which came in the final set of the round.
The Falcons sent the match to the calculators after their No. 1 team of Charlie Kim and Darren Kim won Crescenta Valley’s only doubles set of the day in the final round.
“[I’m] not disappointed, we tried our best,” Hyun said. “I was anticipating a tight match.
“We tried our best. It was a very good match.”
Crescenta Valley’s singles was very good throughout, as No. 1 Eric Kim won a pair of sets, 6-3, and another, 6-1.
Jonathan Frink swept as well, 6-1, 6-2, 7-6. Frink’s tiebreaker in the second round was played right next to No. 3 Kevin Rowe’s tiebreaker with Valencia No. 1 Batis Golestany, which Golestany won, 7-6. Both were played in front of cheering benches that went back and forth.
It was the Vikings’ doubles dominance that likely decided the day, though.
The No. 1 squad of Evan Balmain and Ryan Recalde swept, 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 to set the tone.
“It was a great match,” Hyun said. “I’m satisfied with it, we’ll just try to do better next year.”
