Stevenson tandem rolls on at Deerfield

Another weekend of elite level tennis is over, and the No. 1 doubles team from Stevenson has left the field in tatters.

David Packowitz and Ross Putterman completed a perfect two days of play at the Deerfield Invite with a straight-sets victory over Deerfield’s Ben Shklyar/Alec Siegel to win their second consecutive championship at a high-profile tournament and further solidify its position for the state tournament.

The Patriots victory, coupled with a fourth-place medal from Jeremy Bush at No. 1 singles and strong support from the rest of the team, helped coach Tom Stanhope’s squad edge Highland Park by 1 point (41-40) for third place overall.

New Trier, without defending state champion and reigning 32 champ Robert Stineman, won the team title over Deerfield by 11 points, using an impressive effort from Jared Hiltzik at No. 1 singles. The Trevians could have the top two seeds at singles when the committee convenes later this month.

Glenbrook South, Lake Forest, Glenbrook North and Lake Zurich rounded out the final four spots in the team race.

Packowitz-Putterman put an end to the revenge angle the Deerfield tandem had coming into the match by winning the first set 6-3.

“It was a much closer (set) and match than the score would indicate, especially in that first set when we’re at 3-3 and serving for (4) — which would be the turning point of the match, in my opinion,” said Stanhope. “But when you look back at this match, you also see how strong both David and Ross are as doubles players, because even when they didn’t have their absolute best game today, they still were able to control the pace, and the points, and when they had their chances to close, they did. You have to be impressed with that.”

The Deerfield duo, which fell in straight sets last weekend to the Patriots at the 32, had to be thrilled when they got the No. 2 seed, knowing they were 3 victories away from meeting their rivals with a chance to leap ahead many of the other doubles challengers in the eyes of the state selection commitee.

“It was a terrific opportunity for us today, but I don’t know what happened — it was such a one-sided, boring match from our side of things,” said Deerfield coach Josh Leighton.

After holding serve to go up 4-3 in the first set, with all 4 points coming from Putterman at the net, the big senior used a nice topspin forehand down the channel, the finished off the service break against Siegel when he painted the back line with his return.

The Patriots held serve to win the set, then opened up a commanding 4-1 lead in the second set when they broke Shklyar.

Siegel’s smashing return bounded off the net and appeared to be heading for a winner down the side, but Putterman stayed with the wayward ball with enough composure to strike a winner the other way to help the Pats hold for a 5-1 lead.

When Packowitz held serve 2 games later, the title was theirs.

“Even though we might have been at our best throughout that match, I felt that we were able to show a lot of different looks at them and always seemed to change things up, sometimes after each point, and it was that type of variety which really helped our game today,” said Packowitz.

“We played well when we had to today,” said Putterman, “and that’s the most important thing to do, especially when you’re playing someone who really wanted to have another shot at you one week later. But none of this matters if we don’t finish on top in three weeks.”

“Now, with the postseason almost ready to begin, it might be time to grow the playoff beard,” joked Packowitz.

The Pats’ No. 1 player, Bush, had a tough go of it on this day, first dropping a straight-set match to the eventual runner-up Jason Brown (6-2, 6-0) in the semifinals, and later falling in a marathon first-set tiebreaker 9-7 to Toby Ma before losing the second set 6-1 in the third-place match.

“I am so proud of the way Jeremy battled all throughout this day, and the tournament as well,” said Stanhope. “He had a tough first day when he got a late start (due to AP testing), then he plays Peter (Tarwid) of Lake Forest for the third time this season, which is always a difficult thing to do, and he has to go to a tiebreaker to advance into the semis.

“Jeremy was at 2-2 at the start with Brown, and then Brown kind of took over, but he came back and played Ma with so much heart and worked each and every point with so much energy to show what kind of player he is.”

Stanhope continuted to be impressed by his No. 2 doubles team of Ryan Buxbaum/Andrew Komarov, which provided the team with 8 points over the two days.

“They had a very good win on Friday over GBN, and gave an excellent Highland Park team a great effort in their second set,” said Stanhope, “and with each game, you can see that they are beginning to get it — when it’s in, how to play and cover and communicate as a doubles team should.”

With Stineman away as the centerpiece of the Trevians’ team competing in the Nicolet, Wis., Sweet 16 tournament, Hiltzik stepped in to give New Trier another singles champion with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Brown.

“I stayed focused today, and excuted the game plan my coach put together for me,” said Hiltzik, who lost to Brown earlier in the season. “With Jason, who likes to move you around, I stayed aggressive and set up the points well and got a very big win for my team, and myself.”

Hiltzik broke his opponent to win the first set, then used an exquisite drop to hold to go up 5-2 in the second before unleashing a wicked passing back-hander with Brown coming to the net, and another going the other way to finish things off for good.

at Crystal Lake South

Mid-Suburban West champion Fremd rolled through the competition at the eight-team invite at Crystal Lake South to capture the team trophy in advance of the conference tournament, which begins Thursday at Buffalo Grove.

Senior Matt Burkhardt earned top honors over the field at No. 1 singles, while freshman Eric Pohl, who is a regular in the Vikings’ lineup at No. 3 doubles, claimed the crown at No. 3 singles for coach Matt Duncan.

“We had a real strong effort today, and it’s a good way to finish things out for the regular season for everyone,” said Duncan, who watched his doubles teams sweep the competition at all four flights, including Nick Makowiecki and Maciej Niemcyzk at No. 1 and mates Erik Rosencrans and Joe Cantieri at No. 2.

The Vikings, who have been regulars at this tournament loaded with Fox Valley Conference teams, will enter the MSL tournament as the favorite after coming up with a perfect record during the regular season, including a 6-1 win at rival Barrington last week to clinch the West Division title.

at Niles North

Vernon Hills, which sealed its second straight NSC Prairie Division title on Friday at home against Round Lake, went on the road to Niles North on Saturday for the Vikings annual tennis quad, which welcomed both Loyola and Maine South to its home courts.

The Cougars finished third overall when play ended Saturday as top player Ismail Kadyrov left early as flu-like symptoms erased what would have been the marquee match of the day between the talented sophomore and his good friend, 2010 state qualifier Dave Bacalla.

“(Ish) played about as long as he could to win his first match, but it was obvious that he wasn’t feeling very well, and it was best for him to get home to rest and get himself ready for a busy week of tennis as well as the upcoming sectionals in two weeks,” said Cougars coach Doug Gerber.

Kadyrov (14-1) has defeated Nate Campanile (Grayslake North), a returning state qualifier, as well as Stevenson’s No. 2, Brian Kim. That has him poised to earn one of the top seeds at the upcoming NSC tourney, which begins this Thursday at host Warren.

Vernon Hills’ David Alvaro and David Dobrik are looking for a solid tournament to help improve their chances at sectionals.

“We’re hoping that Ish is feeling well enough to play (Kristiyan) Trulov when we play Warren on Monday, but if that doesn’t happen, he has some good wins over the competition in the conference, which should help his chances for a good seed,” said Gerber, whose club enjoyed another solid year to fuel its fourth division title since 2004.

Gerber tossed several different lineups out on the courts on Saturday and will have the same luxury against Warren, as both he and Blue Devils coach Greg Cohen have agreed to play a super collegiate format at the Vernon Hills Sports Complex.

Monday will be the last regular-season dual for Alvaro, who has been a sensational four-year player and leader for the Cougars.

“We had David around during our summer camps, and I can tell you he’s one terrific young man, and an absolute joy to have been around,” Cohen said recently of the Miami (Ohio)-bound senior.

“It’s going to be kind of strange not having David with us when we get back to playing again (next) spring,” said Gerber, “because he’s been such a fantastic leader both on and off the courts, and a great spokesman for our program during the summer, and the spring season.”