Neuqua Valley wins 5th straight title at W. Aurora

The vast majority of participants at the West Aurora Invitation were simply happy for a chance to compete.

For the fifth consecutive year, however, the Neuqua Valley boys tennis team left little room for doubt, treating the eight-team field as its personal fiefdom in romping to the championship.

With unblemished performances in second singles and all three doubles tandems, the Wildcats dropped only 8 games in the championship round against Geneva Saturday afternoon in Aurora.

Neuqua Valley (9-2) advanced to the title round with 4-1 victories over Timothy Christian and Glenbard West.

"Even though it was a long day, it was a great day," Neuqua Valley coach Trudy Bennorth said. "I'm happy to get (the tournament) in. We were rained out the last two Saturdays."

In the Wildcats' 5-0 win over Geneva, the No. 1 doubles team of Skeeter Plowman and Chase Perry set the tone with its 6-0, 6-1 victory.

"We just starting playing (together) this weekend," Plowman said. "I'm hoping to do pretty well this year (in the state series)."

The Wildcats' duo never gave its Geneva counterparts an opening, using solid teamwork to thwart the Vikings' adjustments.

"(We were) getting our volleys down and putting the pressure on," said Perry.

The Neuqua Valley No. 2 doubles team of senior Brent Handy and junior Joey Pulka were equally efficient against the Vikings, storming to victory with identical 6-1 scores.

"It's unusual if there isn't any wind," Handy said of the beguiling cross-court handicap. "It's pretty much standard (this time of the year)."

"It was handling returns and closing in -- that was the key," added Pulka.

The Wildcats' third doubles of Andy Frandson and Tyler Wall continued the onslaught by cruising to victory, and Amrit Bhaskarla and Jose Cadena concluded the one-sided championship victory with wins at first and second singles, respectively.

After a murderous early-season schedule, Glenbard West notched its first two wins of the season.

The Hilltoppers eased past St. Charles East 5-0 in the quarterfinals, but No. 1 singles Kyle White earned the only semifinal win against Neuqua Valley.

Glenbard West and St. Charles North split the first four matches in the third-place bout, and the Hilltoppers handed the North Stars their second 3-2 loss of the day when third doubles partners George Dallman and Mike Malone escaped with a hard-fought 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 victory.

"We have played five of the top 10 teams in the state," Glenbard West coach Jim Kallesky said of the brutal competition in the West Suburban Silver. "The kids have hung in there nicely, though."

Geneva dispatched host West Aurora quickly to earn a semifinal date against St. Charles North, which was equally unmerciful against Marmion with its 5-0 win.

The teams were deadlocked 2-2, and a championship berth awaited the results at No. 1 singles.

The Vikings' Chris Fowler was engaged in a showdown against the North Stars' Nikhil Mehta, and the third set -- a 10-point tiebreaker -- ultimately decided the semifinal team match.

With the tiebreaker tied at 5-5, Fowler scored the final 5 points, including one on a brilliant drop shot, to send the Vikings into the championship match.

"I was a little confused," Fowler said after eyeing a potential opponent in the North Stars' quarterfinal match. "They changed their lineup (at No. 1 singles). I had to start fresh again. It was a tough match, and I'm just glad I came out on top."

David Ta also won in three sets at second singles for Geneva. The doubles team of Rich Michaels and Bobby Parker put the Vikings over the top against St. Charles North with a win over Stephan Gow and Patrick Corrigan.

Geneva is 9-3 overall, and St. Charles North fell to 10-3 with its pair of narrow defeats.

"Overall, I was pleased with the way everybody played," St. Charles North coach Tim Matacio said. "We had a lot of good teams, and everyone had a chance to play."

In the consolation bracket held at Washington Middle School, Marmion improved to 7-2 on the season with convincing 5-0 victories over West Aurora and Timothy Christian for fifth place.

The Cadets' top singles players, senior Tom Weiler, and sophomore Luke Brandt, were barely challenged in the their two consolation draws; the No. 1 doubles team of Bobby Fortier and Bubba Weiler was strong as well.

"We just didn't start off very well against St. Charles North," Marmion coach Pat Maurer said. "It took us a while to get started."

St. Charles East (7-5) kept West Aurora winless on the season as Kirk Nelson and Sam Gunther led the Saints' 3-2 win with wins at first and second singles, respectively.

"We're struggling, but we have some up-and-coming talent," West Aurora coach Jenny McCormick said.