Glenbard W. edges Palatine for second at own invite
Downers Grove South didn't need its head coach to win the 2014 Glenbard West boys tennis invitational.
The Mustangs swept the tournament, winning every bracket and accumulating 30 points in the process Saturday in Glen Ellyn. Glenbard West narrowly took second with 13 points, while Palatine took third with 12 points.
"I think across the board the boys played really consistent," said Downers Grove South assistant coach Katie Kargl, taking over for an out-of-town Peter Freishlag. "They played well, had really good energy. We're very happy with not only the result but the way they carried themselves today."
In No. 1 singles Downers Grove South junior Tony Leto defeated Glenbard West sophomore Nate Dell 6-1, 6-2 in the finals.
After wrapping up No. 2 singles and Nos. 2 and 3 doubles the Mustangs then won 6-1, 6-1 in No. 1 doubles as Zach Wood and Ryan McMillan defeated Palatine's David Chon and Leo Moslemian.
"We played very good today," McMillan said. "Zach's volleys are just phenomenal today, he was really sticking it in front. His … brush serves really carried us for most of the day even against that really good (Palatine) team today."
The Mustangs didn't go into a third set in any of the final matches.
The battle was then on for second place between Glenbard West, Wheaton Warrenville South and Palatine.
With Palatine losing in the No. 1 doubles final the Tigers' Charlie McDonough won in the No. 1 singles third place match but lost in the No. 1 doubles third place match leaving the door open for the Hilltoppers.
In the fifth-place consolation match at No. 1 doubles, Peter Smith and Matt Lipnica faced off against Glenbard East's Brandon Nasti and Kevin Osburn. Lipnica and Smith won 6-4, 6-2, earning the Hilltoppers the all important 13th point for second place in the team standings.
"First off, this is a great finish for us," said Glenbard West coach Jim Valleskey. "We knew Downers South was loaded up with a top-five, top-10 team in the state, so we knew that would be tough. Looking at how things came out there were a lot of teams that were real close in this tournament, so it was a good competitive tournament."
Wheaton Warrenville South finished in fourth place with 10 points while Fenwick, Glenbard East and Sandburg all tied for fifth place with 7 points. Glenbard South finished eighth with 3 points.