Hopewell Valley boys tennis
By: John E. Powers
The Hopewell Valley Central High School boys tennis team is beating teams it should beat. Now, with the Mercer County Tournament and a few rugged dual meets ahead, head coach Alma Quinlan is hoping her team can raise its level of play.
The Bulldogs (6-2) lost to Princeton Day 5-0 last Thursday, beat Allentown 5-0 Friday and then beat Notre Dame 4-1 Monday.
"I thought the Notre Dame match would be an easier match for us," Quinlan said. "I thought we’d win on all five courts, but Notre Dame always comes up with good athletes who don’t quit. Notre Dame just doesn’t sit there and die. You can’t take a team like that for granted."
Matt McGranaghan beat Tom Connolly 6-0, 6-1 at first singles, Aubrey Holmes beat Jake Hoover 6-2, 6-0, and lacrosse-player-turned-tennis player Steve Deitchman beat Ross Elliott 6-2, 7-6.
"Steve is doing great," Quinlan said. "He’s been playing tennis for just three years, and he has only three losses."
Notre Dame’s Ian Pope and Tyler Riley won at first doubles over Peter Murr and Alex Sheidler 6-4, 6-4, but Jeff Drake and Dan McGruther knocked off Andrew Connell and Rob Allsop 6-2, 7-6.
"I felt the match would be competitive on the third and fourth courts," Quinlan said. "I knew Matt and Aubrey would win they looked so much stronger. Aubrey took total control in the second set."
David Holland, who attended Hopewell Valley schools until his freshman year, led PDS to its win over the Bulldogs. He beat McGranaghan 6-2, 6-4. Holland most likely will be the top seed for the upcoming Mercer County Tournament, which is scheduled to be seeded tonight (Thursday night) at HoVal.
"I knew PDS would be strong, and I knew we’d struggle," Quinlan said. "Dave (Holland) just doesn’t make mistakes, and the No. 2 kid (Vik Gupta) won the state Prep B (at third singles two years ago)."
The Mercer County Tournament begins Tuesday, with finals scheduled for Thursday at Mercer County Park.