Gilroy High boys tennis team drops tight 4-3 decision to Live
Oak at home
GILROY – The Mustang boys tennis team won two of three doubles bouts in Tuesday’s league match against Live Oak, but claimed only one of four singles bouts and faltered 4-3 on the Gilroy High courts.
“Today, it could have gone either way,” said first-year head coach Chris Wolowier, whose squad drops to 4-4 in the Tri-County Athletic League. “We’ve got some tough teams (to go up against), and we’ve got some young, young guys. Live Oak, all their guys were seniors. We’ve got the total opposite of that.”
Senior Christian Rivera notched the only singles victory with a three-set, come-from-behind victory. After dropping the first set, Rivera fought back and won the next two sets to clinch his win.
Junior Anthony Christian and partner Anthony Dragotto also won a three-set thriller in the No. 2 doubles position, while the No. 3 tandem of Julian Mireles and Alex Santa Maria picked up a straight-sets victory.
The Mustangs lost to the Acorns for the second time this season, inching one win closer, but still one short.
“It was close,” Wolowier said. “The No. 4 singles we could have won and that would have turned it 4-3, and our No. 1 doubles went three sets so that could have gone either way. … In terms of ability, we’re right there with Live Oak.”
Senior Andres Sandoval lost in the No. 4 singles spot, after winning in the first clash, while the new No. 1 doubles unit of sophomore Chris Adams and freshman Ben Wilson were in the thick of it in the three-setter.
“No. 1 doubles was a new combination and those two guys play well together,” Wolowier said. “They were playing seniors and went three sets with them, so that’s good.”
Junior Peter Adams lost in the No. 2 singles spot, and junior Ryan McBrearty fell in the No. 3 slot for the Mustangs.
Up next, Gilroy will host league-leading Palma today in a rain make-up game and then head to Salinas High on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
