Flintridge Prep boys’ tennis falls in league opener to rival Poly

GLENDALE — Cartier Juan believes the Flintridge Prep boys’ tennis team is heading in the right direction.

The Flintridge Prep singles player thinks it’s just a matter of fine tuning a few things that might result in the Rebels qualifying for the playoffs in May.

“We just need to improve on our overall consistency and learning how to close out sets,” Juan said after host Flintridge Prep suffered a 12-6 defeat against rival Pasadena Poly on Tuesday in a Prep league opener for both teams at Scholl Canyon Tennis Center. “We feel like we are improving just about all the time and we should be pretty good.”

Juan won two sets, 6-3, 6-1, for Flintridge Prep (5-7). Pasadena Poly, which split the league championship last season with Chadwick, improved to 8-1. The Rebels and Panthers will meet again April 28 at Pasadena City College.

The Rebels, who finished third in league last season before falling to Walnut in a CIF Southern Section Division II wild-card match last season, won five sets in doubles. They received two wins from Will Dixon and Michael Cassutt (7-5, 6-2) and one each from Sean Kilmer and Alex Orloff (6-1) and Josh Choi and Reilly Dalleska (7-6(7-1).

Flintridge Prep second-year Coach Hratchia Sargsyan said Juan has been consistent throughout the season.

“He’s been playing real well and he will continue to improve,” said Sargsyan, who also coaches the school’s girls’ tennis team. “We have a young team.

“Before this season began, some of them hadn’t picked up a racquet since the end of last season. Little by little, they are catching up. Our goal is to get back to the playoffs again.”

Flintridge Prep will next compete in another league match against host Chadwick April 22 at Peninsula Racquet Center in Palos Verdes before its rematch with Pasadena Poly.

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Follow Charles Rich on Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich .