Boys tennis: Naperville Central lineup points to good things at state

The Naperville Central boys tennis team has its eyes squarely on the postseason prize.

That's the reason coach Dan Brown combined his best doubles player Martin Matov with three-year singles qualifier Bill Zhang to form what is proving to be an all-state level doubles team.

Last Saturday the duo went 3-0 at the Downers Grove South Invitational and led the Redhawks to a team championship. The win over Downers Grove North in the first match of the day was the senior Zhang's 100th victory in high school.

Zhang finished in the top 16 in singles at state last year, while Matov and his partner, Ammaar Saeed, finished in the top 12 in the doubles field. Saeed is teaming with Mark Polowczak at two doubles.

"Coach put those two doubles teams together because he thought it could give us more points at state," Zhang said. "Naperville Central is hoping to finish top three, and we think our doubles teams can finish really high in the tournament."

"With his doubles experience, Martin is more comfortable at the net at this time," Brown said. "But Bill is really adjusting to the doubles game and being more aggressive at the net."

The coach points to Zhang's strengths, which include a fine serve and return of serve, good volleys, an ability to cover a lot of ground and an awesome variety of groundstrokes.

"There's naturally an adjustment period as the two get used to each other's tendencies on the court," Brown said.

"Martin has really helped my doubles game," Zhang said. "He has helped me make adjustments in my movement, teaching me when I can poach, and how to be more active and aggressive at the net. I think we have a chance to win the state tournament."

According to Brown, they're both very energetic on the court, their communication is getting stronger and they are both mentally sharp players.

"Our entire team is really playing well," Brown said. "And we want to continue getting better so we're playing our best in the state tournament."

Ryan Roegner, who finished in the top 24 at state, and freshman star Joseph Li will make up the Redhawks' singles field for sectionals.

The Redhawks are atop the DuPage Valley Conference with a 5-0 record, they're 14-0 in dual meets and they've also won tournaments at Rolling Meadows and Moline.

Hampered:

Saturday was supposed to be a coming-out party for Wheaton Academy's Tyler Krill as a singles player, and everything started fine, until the rib injury that confined him to doubles play until last weekend flared up again.

Krill won his first match 6-0, 6-0 at the St. Charles East Invitational and his second 6-2, 6-0. But in the championship round his rib popped out of place and he was forced to withdraw.

The injury was a recurrence of the rib injury he suffered in a snowboarding accident while on spring break.

"After the first injury we were bringing him along slowly," coach Chris Jones said. "He was able to play double because he didn't have to hit the ball as frequently. And it had completely healed to the point that we were comfortable putting him back at singles. Now we'll let him rest for a week and he'll go back to doubles for the balance of the year."

Krill, who won three matches in the state tournament last year, was no slouch on the doubles court, where he teamed with freshman Tristan Hilson to rack up a 10-0 record.

"Ty's serve is virtually untouchable," Jones said. "He has great volleys, one of the best overheads and his net game is solid. So he is also a great doubles player. He'll see a doctor before he gets back in action, but we're confident that he will be able to play the rest of the season."

Last Saturday, Hilson combined with Owen Setran to finish third at St. Charles East, so the coach has some decisions to make about the lineup for the rest of the year.

Panthers on the prowl:

Sophomore Sean Boland is proving to be the best player Glenbard North has had in years, probably since Matt Boguslawski made it to the top 16 at state in 2010.

Last year Boland finished fourth in the DuPage Valley Conference, which featured a number of outstanding singles players, and he went on to qualify for state in a tough sectional.

This year promises to be a similar challenge but veterans Panthers coach Doug Clark believes Boland is up to the task.

"Sean has great groundstrokes," Clark said. "He can lob, slice and he has both a powerful forehand and backhand. He's very quick."

Right now he's playing against many top players and either winning or giving them a tough match. Boland recently took third place at the Schaumburg tournament.

His teammate, senior captain and varsity wrestler, Nathan Powers, played Boland in the third-place match at Schaumburg.

Clark believes that the two hitting against each other in practice every day has improved both their games.

"We're hoping Sean can make it out of sectionals," Clark said. "I'm not making any predictions about state because so much depends on the luck of the draw. I just know that Sean is someone to watch for the future. When he puts on a little muscle, builds more confidence and improves on an already good serve, he'll be able to move up to the next level."