Doubles Play Helps Foothill to Victory

Going into this season, the Foothill boys’ tennis team expected to lean on Joost Hol when it came to the Southern Section playoffs. Hol was one of the top returning players in the county, but like so many others, he passed up high school tennis in favor of the satellite circuit.

His departure put the pressure on the Knights’ doubles teams. And so far they’ve responded. Foothill won eight of nine doubles sets against El Dorado in a Division II match Tuesday and advanced with a 12-6 victory at Foothill.

The Knights (13-6) will get a third meeting with Century League rival Canyon Thursday in the second round. A coin toss today will determine the site.

“The doubles have been steady, not overpowering but steady,” Foothill Coach Bob Zeich said.

Senior Nick Mucha and sophomore Jeff Berry won the Century League doubles title last week and their momentum has carried over to the playoffs. Mucha and Berry swept their sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

“Winning the league title was definitely a confidence booster,” Mucha said. “We have a lot of momentum right now so it’s easy for us to just go out and try and kill it.”

Mucha and Berry both played doubles on the varsity last year but didn’t pair up until early this season. “I didn’t think it would work out because we have too much fun playing together,” Mucha said.

The third doubles team of Jim Weir and David Godshall also swept their sets. 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, and Scott Wilson and Matt Zuckerman won two of three, 6-4, 6-1, 2-6.

El Dorado junior Michael Peng, who won his third consecutive Empire League singles title last week, swept, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. The Golden Hawks finished 13-8.