Struggling Doubles Team Rebounds to Lead University Past Corona del Mar

It’s just as well that University boys’ tennis Coach Josh Davis left well enough alone.

Instead of breaking up the struggling doubles team of Eric Peterson and Barry Martin prior to Friday’s key Sea View League match against Corona del Mar, Davis decided to give the duo one more chance.

Peterson and Martin responded with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 sweep in No. 3 doubles to lead the Trojans to a 10-8 victory over the visiting Sea Kings in a match featuring two of the top teams in Southern Section Division 4-A.

The fourth-ranked Trojans (10-1, 3-0) should move ahead of No. 2 Corona del Mar (7-1, 3-1) in next week’s 4-A poll. Earlier this week, University defeated third-ranked Beverly Hills, 12-6.

“I was seriously thinking about changing that doubles team, because Eric and Barry hadn’t been playing well,” Davis said. “But not anymore. They were focused and came to play today.”

Robbie Wilkins and Bryan Shapiro also swept in doubles for University, helping the Trojans to a 7-2 advantage in doubles sets. University’s depth in doubles offset Corona del Mar’s strength in singles, where the Sea Kings won six sets.

The featured set of the day was at No. 1 singles, where Corona del Mar’s Dave Bain, ranked No. 6 in the state 18-and-under division, defeated No. 3 John Bowerbank, 7-5.

“The way those two played set the tone for the match,” Davis said. “You knew this was an important match the way Dave and John came out firing. Everybody else followed their lead.”