Freshmen Help Put University in Final

University advanced to its first Southern Section boys’ tennis final since 1991 Thursday thanks in large measure to its all-freshman No. 3 doubles team of Anson Hsu and Jeff Lawrence.

The duo won all three of its sets, including the match’s finale that moved the Trojans into a 9-9 tie with Thousand Oaks in sets and an 82-79 victory on games in a Division II semifinal at Thousand Oaks.

After leading, 4-2, after the first round and 7-5 after the second, the Trojans lost four consecutive sets and trailed, 9-7. University’s No. 1 doubles team of Scott Morgan and Philip Osztermann defeated Thousand Oaks’ No. 3 team, Willem Suckow and Jason Korniski, 6-3, pulling it to within 9-8.

Hsu and Lawrence then defeated the Lancers’ No. 2 team, Darius Amiri and Jayme Reynolds, 6-2, putting second-seeded University (19-3) into Tuesday’s final against top-seeded North Hollywood Harvard Westlake, a 13-5 winner over Sunny Hills in the other semifinal.

“They have been one of our most solid teams all year,” Trojan Coach Josh Davis said. “They rose to the occasion again today. They have a lot more poise than you expect from ninth graders. I’m very proud of the way they played.”

Hsu and Lawrence each played two singles sets in a junior tournament earlier Thursday in Thousand Oaks. Hsu said he felt he got off to a slow start in the playoff match.

“Our volleys and serves were so off,” Hsu said. “Toward the middle of the second set, we started to pick it up again. I think I played all right close to the end.”

Lawrence said he tried to stay calm as Thousand Oaks took the lead.

“They were feeding off each other and getting pumped up,” Lawrence said. “We knew we had to keep it a little lower and not get too anxious.”

While University’s No. 1 singles player Greg Biorkman lost all three of his sets, its No. 2 player, freshman Aaron Yovan won two of three. His only loss was to Phil Sheng, a sophomore ranked second in Southern California in the boys’ 18-and-under division.

The Trojans also got a point when No. 3 freshman singles player Henry Mak defeated Willie Mullin, 6-0.