BOYS TENNIS This week, the Boys Varsity Tennis team heated up along with the weather. After two matches this week, the boys improved their record to 4-3 by beating two of the tougher teams in the league, Deerfield and Exeter. In doubles against Deerfield, the boys had two hotly contested matches at numbers one and three, only to end up losing both 9-7 and 8-6 respectively, but being down 1-0 in points did not upset team. The boys came back to win every single singles match. Captain Russel Dykema ’04 played especially well at number two, slaughtering his opponent in two sets 6-2, 6-1. Last Wednesday, the Big Blue traveled to New Hampshire to take on its biggest rivals, Exeter. Both doubles teams, Dykema and Li, and Jon Weigel ’05 and Daniel Wagman ’06 won their matches handily. “Heading into the singles matches up one point made all the difference in our match,” said Li. Li won his singles match 6-4, 6-3 to improve his record to 6 -1 for the season. Exeter tied the competition, however, with two losses on Andover’s side from Wagman and Ben Grant ’05. Both of them played tough opponents who would not let them get into the groove and play their games. This resulted in many errors by the two Andover players, but both vowed to beat their respective opponents later in the season. Weigel dominated at number four and with Weigel’s win, Andover needed to win one of the final two matches of Dykema and Adam Draper ’04. Dykema was the first two win and secure the overall win for Andover. After splitting sets 1-6, 6-4 with his Exeter rival, Dykema entered the third set. His will resulted in a 6-1 third set win. After Andover secured a win with Dykema’s match, Draper’s match was called off early, ending the match at 3-2. GIRLS TENNIS With only half the season behind them, the Lady Blue Tennis team came up against its biggest rivals: Exeter. In their closest match of the season, Andover fell to Exeter in a final score of 10-8. First to play were the doubles matches, playing two sets with no ad scoring. At the first spot, Margaret Kelly ’06, and Captain Sarah Chang ’05 fell quickly to the renowned Exeter number one and partner in a quick score of 6-0, 6-1. In the second doubles spot, Diana Grace ’05 and Lucretia Witte ’06 dominated their Exeter opponents with a tricky mix of passing shots, lobs, and volley winners. At third doubles, Alyssa Hill ’06 and Julia Watson ’07 beat their opponents 6-4, 6-4. In singles, Margaret Kelly ’06 at number one again had a tough time with the Big Red’s top player. She lost a short match 6-0, 6-1. At number two, Diana Grace ‘05 once again surpassed her opponent’s skill. Winning 6-3, 6-4, she never allowed her opponent to get a rhythm. The number three player, Lucretia Witte ’06, suffered a disappointing loss to her Exeter opponent, losing 6-4, 6-2. Sarah Chang ’05 tied against her Exeter adversary, finishing 6-3, 2-6. Alice Campbell ’05, the Andover number five, suffered a loss to her Red rival at 6-3, 6-1. At the sixth slot, Alyssa Hill ’06 tied her opponent, finishing her two sets at 4-6, 6-3. The wind was truly a factor in the matches. As Captain Chang said, “On one side of the net, you had to hit the ball as hard as you could, just to make it go over; but on the other side all you could do was tap it to keep it from going out.” As Coach Grant said with a shake of her fist, “We’ll beat them next time!!”
