Rocky Willette and his No. 2 doubles partner, Josh Wendel, won in three sets. (photo by Ed Wright)

Chief netters begin quest for KLAA South title by doubling up Churchill

  A pair of hard-fought three-set victories at No. 1 and 2 singles sparked Canton's boys tennis team to a 7-2 victory over Livonia Churchill Wednesday afternoon on the P-CEP tennis courts.

  "It took a while to get the first-match nerves out of the way, but the boys found the perseverance and energy to win, even if it did take three hours," said Canton coach Barb Lehmann. "I am proud of their win today."

  No. 1 singles player Ryan Hansz got things going when he outlasted Churchill's Akshay Moorthy, 6-7(5), 6-3 and 6-2. No. 2 man Adam Payne also won a marathon, upending Matt Cezat, 4-6, 6-2 and 6-2.

  Churchill split the singles matches thanks to victories from No. 3 Jalen Woods (a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Varun Bandri) and No. 4 Rishabh Aruikar, who edged Canton's Jordan Anderson, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

  Canton swept the five doubles matches, although it wasn't easy as three of the contests went the distance. The No. 1 duo of Jimmy LaFontaine and Austin Payne nipped Mike Houghan and Joe Mulka, 7-5, 6-7(3) and 6-2, while the No. 2 tandem of Rocky Willette and Josh Wendel defeated Abe Alhabeil and Alex Zuccarini, 5-7, 7-6(2) and 6-3.

  The Chiefs closed the match in convincing fashion with wins in the final three doubles matches: Ashwin Kumar and Alan Halim defeated Ryan McPherson and Eric Stromberg, 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3; Luke Freeman and James Dodge defeated Kyle Appel and Mikey Ingus, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4; and Nirmal Pathak and Steve Price defeated Brian Baumgartner and Kenny Denstaedt, 7-5, 7-5, at No. 5.
  

The Chiefs' No. 4 doubles team of James Dodge (above) and Luke Freeman (below) won in three sets. (Ed Wright photos)