Aliso Niguel Falls Victim to Surprising Diamond Bar

The Diamond Bar boys’ tennis team has picked the right time of year to peak, unfortunately for Aliso Niguel, which lost to the Brahmas, 10-8, Thursday in the second round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

It is the second consecutive upset by the Brahmas (16-9), a wild-card team that defeated Capistrano Valley in the first round Tuesday, before beating Aliso Niguel (18-1).

The Brahmas, whose next opponent is undefeated and second-seeded Dana Hills, acted as if they had won the championship Thursday, dumping a cooler of water on first-year Coach Reuben Jones.

“We didn’t expect to get this far,” Jones said. “We went 3-9 in the preseason, losing to Woodbridge, Sunny Hills and other top teams. But, I knew these kids were really good athletes and they have a lot of heart.”

Aliso Niguel Coach Art Jenkins knew before the match the Wolverines would need six doubles victories and four singles to win. They got six doubles victories, but the singles’ squad fell just short.

Sophomore Jason Mednick, who lost only three sets this season and never more than one in a match, dropped two to Diamond Bar. He lost to the Brahmas’ top player, Kevin Singleton, 7-5. Then he fell to Ryan Terry 6-2, before winning his final set, 6-2, over Arif Hasan.

“I think today was all mental,” Mednick said. “The first two matches I wasn’t really ready.”

Senior Chris Kan, after defeating Terry in the first set, 6-1, dropped his final two, 7-6 (6-4), 7-5.

“Anyone who has ever played this game knows that playing [one set] under pressure for one point is tough,” Jenkins said. “There are too many variables. There is so much pressure and it is so easy not to play your best tennis.”

Mednick was surprised at his team’s early elimination.

“It’s disappointing. I always thought we’d lose to a far superior team,” Mednick said. “But, I don’t take anything away from [Diamond Bar]. They played really well.”