Servite’s Moore Defeats Angry Exon

Woodbridge sophomore Chase Exon played well enough to win Saturday at the Southern Section individual sectionals at Edison High. But in the end, he simply had too many opponents--his temper, the wind and Servite sophomore Ryan Moore.

Exon, who only qualified for the tournament because Corona del Mar’s Boris Turkich injured his back, lost to Moore, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a match that featured great shot-making and several temper tantrums from Exon.

Early in the third set, Woodbridge Coach Joan Willett had to calm Exon during a game. A point later, Exon shouted an expletive after missing a shot. Exon was down, 4-1, in third set and looked to be out of the match but he broke Moore’s serve twice and held his to tie it, 4-4.

“I saw him with his shoulders drooped, screaming at himself and I thought I had it,” Moore said. “But he came back at me and I started to play a little tight.”

But Moore took advantage of two unforced errors from Exon to go up, 5-4, and he ended the match by holding his serve in the next game. Exon, who appeared embarrassed by his outbursts, said he had more problems with the wind than his temper or Moore.

“The wind plays a big factor on that one side,” Exon said. “Psychologically, the wind was a big disadvantage for me. I’ve never played well in the wind. My footwork’s not that great anyway and I have a hard time setting myself when I don’t know where the ball’s going to land. The court didn’t help. There were a lot of potholes.”

Moore, who was not seeded, advanced to Friday’s round of 16 for the second consecutive year. Moore will be joined by Huntington Beach senior Brett Hankey, Foothill sophomore Joost Hol and Corona del Mar freshman Taylor Dent. The other 12 spots will come from players at three other sectional sites.

Hankey also battled his temper, but he somehow overcame it and a one-set deficit to defeat Villa Park’s B.K. Chang, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

“Down, 4-2, in the second set, I just decided to go down fighting, instead of kicking and screaming at myself,” Hankey said. “I had to start concentrating.”

Hankey, who was seeded first, said the wind seemed to help Chang.

“I’ve never had trouble with him before,” Hankey said. “But he played well and I was making a lot of unforced errors.”

Dent and Hol advanced without losing a set. Hol defeated Westminster freshman Cody Jackson, 6-3, 6-2, in the last round and Dent beat Garden Grove junior Andro Ignacio, 6-1, 6-0.

Three of the four seeded doubles teams advanced. The only team that didn’t was top-seeded Derek Munchow and Cordell Ezerins of Long Beach Wilson, who lost to Esperanza’s Walt Fryer and Tom Lloyd, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

The other teams to advance were Woodbridge’s Brandon Shainfield and Greg Levy, Aliso Niguel’s Burt Gonzell and Brian Mangino and Santa Margarita’s Andy Tsu and Cody Shedd.

Friday’s round of 16 at SeaCliff Tennis Club in Huntington Beach begins at 1 p.m.