Experienced Lakes aims for best finish

The Lakes boys tennis team put together a solid foundation in its first two seasons of varsity action.

This year, the Eagles have an excellent chance to be the best team in the brief history of the school.

Before, the Eagles were the young, upstart squad. Now, they feature veteran players with substantial varsity experience.

The Eagles are 7-0 in dual matches (through Tuesday) and are the favorites to win the Prairie Division.

"Our experience is absolutely key to what we're trying to do right now," coach Bryan Plinske said. "Our guys know what it's like to compete at this level."

A good example of this is that Lakes' players know every single match counts toward the sectional seeding.

"You never know what match is going to come back to haunt you at seeding time," Plinske said. "It takes a lot of preparation to gear up for our kind of schedule. They know that every day they have to go out there with a purpose."

For the third consecutive year, Lakes will be led by its No. 1 doubles team of seniors Charlie Scupham and Justin Shea. As sophomores, they qualified for the state tournament.

There was some thought given using them at singles, but it was decided to keep a good thing going.

"It would have been interesting (to play singles), but we figured it's our last year," Scupham said. "We didn't make it to state last year and that left a sore taste in our mouths. We want to prove to people in this area that the year we made it wasn't a fluke."

Scupham and Shea have won their first 12 matches this season. Their serving is constantly keeping their opponents on the defensive.

"I've never been involved with a (doubles) team that moves the ball around on the serve as much as they do," Plinske said. "The net man gives signals about where he wants the ball and the server will put it right there. Teams are having fits trying to return it."

The new No. 2 doubles pairing of senior Timmy David and junior Joey Davis has meshed quickly. David played No. 2 doubles last year while Davis was used more at singles.

"Timmy has the doubles experience and knows what is supposed to happen," Plinske said. "Joey's first serve has a lot of pace, and he has the ground strokes of a singles player. It was absolutely the right pairing."

In his third year at No. 1 singles, junior Andrew Yopp is used to facing great competition every time out.

"I'm a lot more comfortable playing against better players," he said.

A key for Yopp this season is setting up points.

"He's thinking more about what he wants to do with his shots," Plinske said. "He's grasping the strategy aspect of the singles game."

A growth spurt over the last two years has also been a boon to his game.

"His results are going to surprise some people this year," Scupham said.

Junior Randall Haylock's consistency is not yet where he wants it to be, but there's no denying his power. In one match this season, he ripped off four consecutive aces.

"When his serve is on, all you can do is hope to block it back," Plinske said.

To test his team, Plinske put together a tough schedule to prepare the Eagles for the postseason.

"We're trying to get in as many matches as we can against quality competition," he said. "We have overloaded our weekends because we know how important it is to get in as much tournament play as possible."