Crescenta Valley High boys’ tennis cruises past Chadwick in opening-round playoff contest
LA CRESCENTA — It’s certainly hasn’t been easy of late having to juggle the arduous task of taking advanced-placement tests and preparing for the postseason. Many members of the Crescenta Valley High boys’ tennis team currently find themselves in that situation.
On the court, Crescenta Valley passed its first playoff test with a 13-5 home victory against Chadwick on Wednesday in a CIF Southern Section Division II opening-round match.
“Many of our players have been taking the AP tests, so we haven’t had too much time to practice,” Crescenta Valley Coach Sam Hyun said. “It can be hard having to focus on the tests and beginning the playoffs.
“I thought we were able to come out and play relaxed and that helped us along the way.”
Crescenta Valley (13-4) will next compete in a second-round road match against Walnut or Atascadero at 3 p.m. Friday. The Falcons entered the postseason having finished second in the Pacific League behind second-seeded Arcadia.
The Falcons apparently had enough energy in reserve while on the court to topple the Dolphins (5-7) on Wednesday. Crescenta Valley got three wins apiece in singles from Arin Meserkhani and Jonathan Frink and two from Eric Kim.
Meserkhani and Frink paved the way for the Falcons, losing just one game each. Kim won his two sets, 6-4, 6-1, before being replaced.
Meserkhani, a reigning All-Area Doubles Player of the Year when he was at Glendale, said the Falcons needed to begin the match on a positive note.
“We had to come out and stay relaxed and patient,” said Meserkhani, a senior. “We had to play a lot like the way we did during the regular season and not really change that much.
“I personally felt pretty good out there. My serving was good and things just clicked with my forehand shots and my movement to the balls.”
In doubles, Crescenta Valley received two wins from Jason Chang and Albert Chtchyan and Kevin Rowe and Charlie Kim. The Falcons also received a victory from Danny Chung and Alex Jang.
Chang and Chtchyan, who advanced to the league final in doubles May 6 at Pasadena High, won, 6-1, 6-0. The duo lost in a tie-breaker, (7-6 (7-4), to Cooper Sakaguchi and Austin Farris.
Rowe and Kim won, 6-3, 6-0. Chung and Jamg posted a 6-4 victory.
“We have to keep a positive attitude, no matter who we are playing next,” Meserkhani said. “We feel like we have a very good team and we just have to keep clicking and working hard.”
Sakaguchi and Farris won their two previous sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Chadwick took second place in the Prep League behind Pasadena Poly.
