Micum-Decaney lift Leyden to share of quad title

Konrad Micum and Matt Dacaney captured an exciting three-set victory at No. 1 doubles over Walther Lutheran to help Leyden gain its second dual-meet win and give the Eagles a piece of the title at the annual Elk Grove boys tennis quad Saturday.

Micum and Dacaney won a seesaw third set 7-5 over Brian Jackson-Dairon Robinson - after the Broncos' duo broke the Eagles' serve in Game 9 to win the second set 6-3.

Micum-Decaney won the first set 6-2.

"We complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, which keeps us competitive in every match," Dacaney said.

"I go to the net pretty well, and Matt serves really well, and between us we seem to get it done against our opponents," Micum said,

The Eagles' Micum-Dacaney (22-7) are looking forward to a rematch against rival Hinsdale South this weekend at the West Suburban Gold tournament - with the hope of erasing a three-set, 2 tie-breaker defeat earlier this spring.

Leyden (9-5) fell 3-2 to St. Viator in its opener. The Lions' first and second singles players, Taylor Blaney and Dean Tanglis, each recorded straight-sets victories, while teammates James Estauer and Brendan Klunkerberg helped seal the overall win with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph at second doubles.

Both Blaney and Tanglis were 3-0 Saturday.

"It's a little different of a team this season after winning the ESCC championship last spring," said Lions coach Dan Tripamer. "We lost our best player (Andrew Rice), who was a conference champion and state qualifier, as well as three veteran starters in Mike Zielinski, Josh Concon and Peter Cote. But we're beginning to come around as a team and should have a pretty good chance when we host the conference tournament next weekend."

The junior Blaney appears poised to make a strong run at another ESCC title and further success in the sectionals.

After going 0-4 in the ESCC to start the season, Blaney finally found his pace and has been on fire of late - including a 6-4, 6-4 win Thursday over Marian Catholic star Julian Childers.

"That was easily Taylor's best match of the season," Tripamer said, "He looked like the Taylor from last year, and that's good news for him and our team."

Blaney, who won 25 matches last season en route to a conference title at No. 2 singles, knows he has an uphill battle the next 2 weeks. But he feels he's ready for the challenge.

"I was less than 100 percent when the season began and I know my poor start in the conference will hurt me a little when No. 1 singles is seeded," Blaney said. "But I feel that all the work that I did in the summer and fall to work on my fitness is going to be a benefit to me in the tournament and the following week at sectionals when the field will go 6-8 players deep in talent."

The Lions' No. 1 doubles tandem of Pat Martin and Brian Letke were unable to hold off the Grens' Alex Montague and Masato Sasaki, who recorded a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory.

The Grens defeated Walther Luther 4-1 for their lone victory, They fell 4-1 to Leyden and 3-2 to St. Viator.