Exner, Lorentsen flexibly lead Falcons
It doesn't matter to Will Exner and Jack Lorentsen of Wheaton North whether they play singles or doubles.
In conference, they're the Falcons' top two singles players, and in nonconference meets and tournaments they make a successful doubles partnership.
On Monday, Exner, a senior, and Lorentsen, a sophomore, won their first-doubles match 6-1, 6-2 to lead Wheaton North (13-8-1) to a 6-2 victory over Glenbard South (11-6).
"Today, they played well at doubles," said Wheaton North coach Rick Rateike. "They're our two best players on our team. In conference Jack is our No.1 singles and Will is at No. 2. Next year Jack will probably go back to singles. He's an experienced USTA player who plays all year and against all the big names.
"Will is the best doubles player I've ever coached. He has a great all-around game - big serve, net game, good groundstrokes."
The coach has not decided where they'll play at sectionals.
How do Exner and Lorentsen feel about that uncertainty at this point in the season?
"We've been switching all season, so its not as hard as if we played doubles all season and then switched back to singles," Lorentsen said. "That would be tough. But we've been playing both. Doubles helps our volleying and getting up to the net, and singles helps our consistency."
"We've become a good doubles team because we both know how the other one plays," Exner said. "I'm better at volleying and Jack has great groundstrokes. We just work well together."
With a 12-3 doubles record, the two hope to get a high seed at sectionals and qualify for state. That's if they're paired up.
"If they play together at state, I expect them to be seeded," said Rateike. "But there are still some scenarios where they could wind up at singles. We're still gathering information."
To win Monday's meet, the Falcons swept the doubles flights, winning three hotly-contested matches (two doubles and a singles) that went to three sets.
"I'm happy with our doubles," Rateike said. "It shows we have a lot of depth. The expanded formats have worked well for us."
Glenbard South coach Mark Conrad continues to be happy with the progress his young Raiders are making, but was not pleased that those three close matches were decided by his team's tendency to make unforced errors.
"When you get to the third set you have to play your best tennis, not your worst," said Conrad. "We were double-faulting, hitting the ball out of bounds. You have to focus. By winning two of those three-setters we could have tied them. Our third-singles and fourth-doubles were both leading in the third set."
Vince McPherson, who won his first-singles match 6-0, 6-1 and Sam Hughes, who scored a 6-0, 6-1 win at second-singles, were both impressive in picking up the Raiders' 2 points for the match.
"Vince and Sam have been holding their own against everyone," Conrad said.