TENNIS: Salem wins all nine matches against Richland

Published 5:31 pm Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Salem High School’s varsity tennis had its first meet March 28 against Richland. The home game took place at the tennis courts at the park, and the team won all nine matches, three doubles matches and six singles.

Starting at number one doubles this meet was Gabe Morton and Eric Wood. They took on Richland’s Sheldon Mathis and Brian Buckley and won 8-2, taking the first win of the season. The number two doubles spot featured Josh Sirois and Nick Hawach, who played against Quinton Ashburn and Gabe Mitchell, winning the match with an easy 8-0.

Richland had to forfeit the number three doubles and six singles matches due to being short a team member, Tyler Bolan. Instead, the coaches put a Salem player in his place for them to still play a match. Salem’s number three doubles, Brandon Pike and Jacob Stacy, played against Salem’s Richard Parks and Richland’s Shawn Cottrell. Pike and Stacy won that match 8-1.

Moving on to singles, the Tigers had a strong lineup, winning all six of those matches. Salem didn’t let Richland score more than four games in a match.

“It was a good start to the season,” said Coach William Hubbs after all the matches were completed. “We have some things to work on, but we have some high goals in mind for now and toward the end of the season with districts and such.”

Winning 8-3 in number one singles was Gabe Morton against Brian Buckley. Morton had great placement of the ball. Being up 4-1, Morton hit a backhand cross-court, to which Buckley returned. Gabe matched up with him and hit a winner cross-court forehand to win that game. Then, being up 5-2 and the score being 40-30, Morton aced his first serve. It hit right in the corner of the service box and had so much top spin that it spun out of his opponents reach, to ace the serve.

Stepping up as number two singles this year, Nick Hawach won his match against Sheldon Mathes 8-3. After those wins, it wasn’t hard for the trend to catch on for number three Eric Wood. He matched up against Quinton Ashburn from Richland to win 8-3.

Josh Sirois for the Tigers won his match 8-4 as the fourth singles spot. His opponent at the meet was Gabe Mitchell, who he faced during his doubles match earlier in the day. Sitting at number five was Brandon Pike with the last match that counted for the meet. Pike played against Shawn Cottrell with a win of 8-1.

Since Richland had to forfeit the sixth singles spot, Jacob Stacy played against Parks for a practice match. Stacy ended up winning 8-1 against his own teammate.