Knights avoid sweep with three-set victory in second doubles
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MENDOCINO >> Mendocino High School remains undefeated atop the Coastal Mountain Conference North tennis standings after beating Kelseyville 4-1 on Tuesday afternoon in Mendocino.
Kelseyville’s lone win came in second doubles where Grace Peterson and Jesse Barnett won a three-set thriller against Summer Nemieth and Eli Griffin, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 11-9. A tiebreaker to 11 points was played in lieu of a third set because of time considerations.
“Coming back to win in three sets is great,” Kelseyville head coach Andy Dobusch said. “Saving five match points to do it is even better. Grace and Jesse played smart, consistent tennis in that third set.”
Getting lucky never hurts, either.
“Down 9-5, three of the last six points were balls hit out by Mendocino deep on the baseline, missing by inches,” Dobusch said. “If any of those go in, we lose the match. They did and we won, barely.”
In singles action, Maddy Borghesani fell 6-0, 6-2 to Max Oatney in first singles.
“Despite the score, it was a good match for Maddy,” Dobusch said. “Max will be one of the top players in the boys division at our Coastal Mountain Conference Championships, so he’s pretty tough competition and great practice for Maddy (who will compete for the girls title at the CMC Championships).
Riley Lopez dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision to Enzo Abuliak in second singles while Olivia Bushey fell 6-0, 6-2 to Vale Guthier in third singles.
In first doubles, Olivia Raabe and Riley Hanson lost 6-0, 7-5 to Gabi Mcelroy and Leo Hinkle.
“The girls were a little woozy from the car ride and got off to a slow start before coming back in the second set,” Dobusch said. “If just a couple points go our way, we win the second set and take it to a tiebreaker, where it’s anyone’s match.”
Kelseyville, now 5-3 in conference action, hosts Middletown on Friday at 4 p.m.
