Over the past several years, the Carson High boys tennis team could normally count on a tough test from Truckee.
But this year was a different story as the Senators rolled to a 17-1 win over Truckee, usually one of the better teams in the Northern 4A, on Tuesday in their season opener at Centennial Park.
"The kids played well, better than I thought for a first day," Carson coach Pat Houlihan said. "It was a good first match. It was helpful. It was a good way to start."
Freshman Spencer Brinson and Evan Thayer each swept both of their singles matches as Brinson won 6-0, 6-1 and Thayer won 6-1, 6-0. Also in singles, Ryan Dwyer won 6-0 and suffered the only loss for Carson, 5-7, in a set that lasted one hour and 15 minutes and included many deuce games. In addition in singles, Dan Neiman won 6-3, James Pelz won 6-3 and Kyle Stone won 6-3.
In doubles, Josh Caron and Bryt Lewis won 6-4, 6-0, Chris Wear and Nick Smallman won 6-0, 6-0 and Adam Houghton and Nathaniel Hamer won 6-0, 6-0. Jordan Rogers and Travis Trethan won 6-0, Brad Cobler and Grant Jeppson won 6-4 and Alex and Tyler Wing won 6-1 as well.
In other matches, in singles, Gordon Lee won his first ever match 6-1, Thomas Pringle won 6-1 and Ben Henningsen won 6-1 in singles and Julian Block and Rick Nguyen won 6-4 and Spencer Trapp and Ian Gentner lost a close 4-6 match in doubles.
TRUCKEE 10, CHS GIRLS 8
There were many close matches, but in the end the Carson girls tennis team fell just short in its season opener at Truckee. Carson coach Diane Baker Roberts said Truckee's aggressive play at the net was among the factors that made the difference. "They had some girls that can play the net," Roberts said.
The turning point looked like it was going to come in doubles when Elise Hansen and Melissa Whitcome overcame a 2-5 deficit to win 7-6 in the second round. Carson then went on to sweep in singles in the third round to take an 8-7 lead as Jenni Hood won 6-2, Lisa Midboe won 6-4 and Shanni Eng won 6-0.
But Truckee swept the doubles to win the match. Carson was down 9-8 when Amanda Gohr and Elizabeth Gohr dropped the last match 5-7. But even if the Gohrs had pulled out the match to force a 9-9 tie, Truckee would have been awarded the win based on the new scoring system as it won the most total games.
Midboe and Eng each sustained 4-6 losses in the first round, but they both came back to win in the second round with Eng winning 6-4 and Midboe winning 6-0. Also in singles, Hilary Schlager won 6-4.
In doubles, Meagan Carter and Emily Wang won 6-0, but also sustained a close 4-6 loss. In other doubles matches, Hood and Kristi Philippi won 6-1, Kacey Moseley and Paige Miller won 6-4, Molly Champion and Meaghan Craig won 6-3 and Jessica Adams and Llelani Ibarra won 6-0.
"I see some changes that need to be made," Roberts said. "We'll come around. We'll do all right."