Boys tennis: Metea Valley earns win against WW South for coach

Junior Sarat Sagaram and his Metea Valley boys tennis teammates heeded the pep talk from coach Kole Clousing.

Thursday's dual match at Wheaton Warrenville South was monumental.

"It is the most important match of the year, that's what he says," Sagaram said. "Because it was against his mom, it's like a family rivalry, so he wanted us to be really motivated for this one."

The Mustangs' 6-1 DuPage Valley Conference victory in Wheaton gave Clousing a victory in his first season as varsity head coach over his mother, Patti, the Tigers' long-time coach for both Tigers tennis programs.

Also making his girls varsity coaching debut in the fall, Kole and the Mustangs prevailed in the first meeting versus mom's team 4-3.

"My record against my mom is 2-0 right now head-to-head, but her claim to fame is her one player did better at state. It's a fun rivalry," Kole Clousing said with a big smile.

"I've said one of my main goals is just to beat my mom. I look forward to this matchup every year, especially since I played here, too (for WW South)."

The Mustangs (4-3 in DVC with 28 points) won five matches in straight sets. For WW South (2-4 with 16 points), sophomore standout Sunny Sirinit won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Sirinit has only lost twice this season, both in three sets.

The teams dove into giant candy bags between camps as the marquee matchup at No. 1 doubles continued. Metea senior Ian Doyle and sophomore Aleks Schroeder rallied to beat senior Jack Lillig and freshman Paul Choi 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

"We were looking forward to (this meeting). For me, it's great seeing one of my kids enjoying the same thing that I do," Patti Clousing said. "(Kole) grew up, obviously, going to all of the camps that I taught. I could see as he got older he really enjoyed teaching the love of the sport."

Winning at Nos. 2-3-4 singles, respectively, were Metea freshman Vittal Harith 6-1, 6-0, sophomore Nathan Erickson 6-2, 6-3 and sophomore George Gudgeon 6-2, 6-2. In doubles, Sagaram and junior Aryan Gandhi won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 and freshmen Tanay Vutukuru and Shankar Jambunathan won 6-1, 7-5 at No. 3.

Starting with Doyle's service, the Mustangs took the last three games at No. 1 doubles to improve to 6-1 in DVC play - their only loss so far. The Tigers are 4-2 with three losses overall.

"That was really crucial for us to get that (win for possible state) seeding," Schroeder said. "We just try to keep each other energized and try to stay positive throughout the whole match."

Both teams have lost to Naperville Central at No. 1 doubles. Metea beat Naperville North in three sets 6-7, 6-2, 7-5.

"Just trying to stay focused really helps," Doyle said. "Losing that first set (Thursday), to come and win those next two was definitely a great thing for us to see."

Lillig, a 2016 state doubles qualifier, hopes to return with Choi, a new but old partner.

"We've known each other for like 10 years. We both played at Wheaton Sport Center," Lillig said. "It wasn't happening for us today, but we have a lot of time before the DVC (Tournament). We'd love to see them again."

Kole Clousing, a 2008 WW South graduate, began coaching while in high school and when Cantigny had tennis courts. He joined Metea's coaching staff as an assistant for Karly Olson, a former WW South tennis player for Patti and now an assistant coach at Wheaton College, where Olson also played.

Now in his fourth season with the boys, how does Kole's coaching style compare with Patti's?

"I'm harsher on my guys, oh yeah. I yell at them a lot. But I have high expectations," Kole Clousing said. "But my No. 1 goal is to teach them on and off the court, life lessons. Building relationships with the kids is the main reason I coach, and helping them grow."

"His energy and enthusiasm that he brings to the program is something that I try to emulate," Patti Clousing said. "He has taken that joy to his program, too."