After stringing together three straight wins, health issues and tiebreaker losses took a toll on the Rye boys tennis team.
With two of the top three players out of the lineup May 1 against perennial league-contender Scarsdale, the Garnets (5-4) lost for the third time in their past four competitions. Eighth-grader Grant Lobo, the team’s No. 1 singles player, was away competing in another tournament, and junior Luke Gordon, No. 3, sat out with an illness.
“With a depleted crew, we lost 6-1,” said Rye coach Sue Dickson. “Although the score looks like a blowout for Scarsdale, several matches were tight.”
Alex Gordon, Rye’s lone senior, stepped up to play in the No. 1 spot, while Xavier Morell and CJ Loizeau both made their varsity singles debuts in the No. 2 and No. 3 matches.
The No. 1 doubles team, sophomores Filip Glitterstam and Lou Kim-Reuter, lost 6-3, 6-7 (1-7) (10-4) in a super tiebreaker. The Garnets’ lone victory also came in a super tiebreaker, won by freshman Timothy Morell and sophomore Marcos Becker, 6-2, 1-6, (10-7).
“Scarsdale was the top team in Section 1 last year, and this year is still reigning supreme,” Dickson said. “Rye is competitive, but they usually get us in the end and play stronger tiebreakers overall.”
Leading up to the Scarsdale match, Rye lost 4-3 to Mamaroneck on April 29, beat New Rochelle 6-1 on April 28, and lost at Rye Country Day 5-2 on April 25. The team’s regular season was scheduled to conclude May 9 against John Jay-Cross River.
“We’re a young team this year with some great potential for growth,” Dickson said. “They have great sportsmanship, a love of tennis, and support each other well. They are a great group to coach.”
