The Garnets dropped both of their opening tennis matches last week, losing in heartbreaking fashion to Mamaroneck and Blind Brook.

By Melanie Cane

 

RHS dropped both of its opening tennis matches last week, losing in heartbreaking fashion to Mamaroneck and Blind Brook.

 

Against Mamaroneck, the two deciding matches went into super tiebreakers in the third set. Rye ended up losing 5-2.

 

At Blind Brook, the Garnets met with a similar fate, losing 4-3. At first singles, junior captain Grant DeBease, lost 6-2 and 7-5. DeBease blamed the loss on a lack of concentration. “My head wasn’t in it. I’ve had a really tough week.” In his match at Mamaroneck, DeBease lost the third set 10-8 in a super tiebreaker.

 

Second singles player James Reid, squandered a 3-0 lead and also lost in a close match. “My opponent played a really tough game,’’ Reid said. “He hit a lot of lobs and got everything back.”

 

Third singles player Harry Bonay, won easily in straight sets, giving up only one game in both sets.

 

The first doubles team, comprised of junior Will Friedman and sophomore Tremonte Kosuke, lost 6-2, 6-3.

 

“We beat ourselves,” said a frustrated Friedman. “That’s all there is to it.”

 

Rye’s No. 2 doubles team, comprised of senior captain Phil Dorn and sophomore Alex Starke also lost, but the third and fourth spots won.

 

Coach Sue Dickson interchanged second and third singles in the first two matches and is still tweaking the line-up. She’s optimistic about the rest of the season: “The doubles teams are beginning to gel and that the overall chemistry of the team is great.”

 

The Garnets were set to play their first home match, against Keio post-deadline.