Boys’ Tennis Preview: All sorts of optimism for local programs in 2015

It’s quite possible there might be a shift in strength from singles to doubles within the lineup of the Glendale High boys’ tennis team.

In recent seasons, the Nitros have usually had a core of solid singles players that has helped lead them to the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. Now, the focus will likely be in doubles for the Nitros, who will look to make a return trip to the postseason in May.

“We feel like we can be very good in doubles this time around,” said Glendale Coach Bob Davidson, whose team finished tied for second last season in the Pacific League with Crescenta Valley. “We have a couple of very good No. 1-2 teams and will look to find that third group.

“We’re pretty much inexperienced in singles, though. We’ll have one of those type teams that will try to get better throughout the season. We’ll be as competitive as we can be.”

Glendale’s top doubles teams will consist of seniors David Casaburi and Matt Davidian and senior Artiom Ambartsoumian and sophomore Nick Zatikian.

The Nitros took a hit in singles after No. 1 player Arin Meserkhani chose to transfer to rival Crescenta Valley last summer. Meserkhani played most of last season at singles before uniting with Michael Akopians to win the league’s doubles championship. Meserkhani and Akopians were selected the All-Area Boys’ Doubles Team of the Year after advancing to the third round of the CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament.

Glendale’s most experienced singles player will be sophomore Melvin Issaei.

“The other spots in singles will be up for grabs,” Davidson said. “We know it’s going to be a very tough league with Arcadia being an overall outstanding team and Burbank being very good in singles.”

Crescenta Valley might be in line to field one of its most competitive teams in the last five years. The addition of Meserkhani, a junior, should provide the Falcons with a spark.

Crescenta Valley will probably be formidable in singles with senior Albert Chtchyan and junior Jonathan Frink in the mix. In doubles, the Falcons’ No. 1 doubles team will be seniors Jason Chang and Jae Woong Yoon.

A sturdy lineup has given Crescenta Valley Coach Sam Hyun reason for optimism.

“We have three or four players who are solid and they are all about even in skill,” Hyun said. “We have high hopes that this will be one of our best teams in a few years.

“We’ll have to continue to practice hard and then see what happens.”

Like Glendale and Crescenta Valley, Hoover also qualified for the playoffs last season.

The Tornadoes lost standout singles player Emile Ohanyan to graduation, though they will return juniors Chris Ghadimi and Hrant Aghakanyan to help lead the charge.

“We’ve got big expectations, no doubt,” said coach Andre Ratavousian, who will handle the bulk of the coaching responsibilities with coach Julie Hoppe taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. “We’ll definitely have a good lineup throughout singles.

“There will be some spots open in doubles that we want to try to fill quickly.”

St. Francis also appeared in the postseason last season under coach Ron Zambrano, who is the reigning All-Area Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year after leading Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy to a Sunshine League championship and a trip to the second round of the playoffs last fall.

Zambrano said he’d be pleased to have a similar season at St. Francis, which won 14 matches last season.

“We feel like we are even stronger than last year,” Zambrano said. “We have three good singles and we’re not bad at doubles.

“The goal is to make the playoffs and win the program’s first playoff match ever. Hopefully, we can go deep in the playoffs.”

St. Francis’ singles players will be senior Greg Alle, junior Mostafa El-Harazi and sophomore Jack Freer.

At Flintridge Prep, the Rebels will feature a lineup of mostly underclassmen. However, the Rebels have an ace at No. 1 singles in junior Cartier Juan, who earned All-Area accolades last season after going 36-4 and reaching the second round of the CIF Individual Tournament.

“He’s easily our best player and he’s very much improved since the end of the last season,” Flintridge Prep Coach Hratchia Sargsyan said. “I think he can have an even better season.”

Joining Juan will be freshman Ryan Lee. One of the Rebels’ top doubles players will be junior David Arcia.