Benet’s doubles come through against Carmel

Benet roared back from a 2-0 deficit to sweep all three flights of doubles and defeat visiting Carmel in boys tennis Thursday afternoon in Lisle.

After the freshman duo of Brandon Dechter and Kevin Hunt began the East Suburban Catholic Conference dual with straight-set victories at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, the Redwings’ top two doubles teams won three-set matches. That set up some heroics from Alex Romano-Stephen Konrad, who needed little time to settle the outcome in cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph.

The 3-2 victory gives the Redwings a perfect 8-0 record in ESCC play, while the Corsairs drop to 5-2 with one league match left in the regular season, Marist next Monday at home.

“It was a little sloppy out there today, but it was good to see our 1-2 dubs comeback to win the third set of their (matches) to get us back in it,” said Benet coach Mike Hand.

“I really liked what I saw from both teams which created their own energy, especially Bobby (Martin) and Matt (Rurka), who lost their first set to Carmel yet came back to win the second (in a tiebreaker) before really stepping on the gas to go up 4-0 in that third set and closing out the set.”

The Redwings pair fell 6-3 in their opening set to Geoff Butler-Bryan Hunt but fought their way to draw even with a 7-3 tiebreaker victory.

In the third set, the Redwings went up 4-0 when Martin held serve, then dropped a game with Hunt serving before Rurka’s hold and another break, this time at the expense of Butler.

“Benet’s doubles teams are very good, and I think, for my two top teams, they got a little tense when things got tougher, and weren’t able to hold (them) off,” said Carmel coach Nancy Fehn. “We have a lot of confidence in both of those teams, and the great thing is that the conference tournament is next weekend, when we’ll have another chance hopefully to play them.”

Grant Gatto-Matt Garvin had to fight off a fired up Corsairs’ pair of R.J. Paulson and Stephen Feely in their match at 2-dubs, overcoming a 7-5 second-set defeat to win the second straight doubles match for the home-side.

In a match of constant ebb and flow, the Redwings broke Feely’s serve to earn a first set 6-4 decision before watching their opponent take the second 7-5 to force a third set.

“They were very consistent, and were keeping the ball in play, and we struggled with too many unforced errors to let them back into the match before we got the momentum back in that third set,” said Garvin, who served for the set in what would be the longest game of the set.

“We weren’t putting points away when we had our chances, but when we finally started to hit our shots, and close out points, everything began to go our way right up to the end,” said Gatto.

Benet dropped two very competive singles matches to start off the day on the wrong foot.

Noah Read looked in control in his first set with Brandon Dechter, only to see his opponent erase a 6-5 deficit and win the first set before cruising to a 6-2 victory in the second.

“I sensed (Noah) might be tiring a little in that second set, so that’s why I tried to move him side to side as much as I could,” said Dechter, who has thrived in his role as the Corsairs’ No. 1, as well as in his first appearance in the Pitchford 32 Invite last weekend.

“It’s too bad the second day was washed away,” said Dechter of last weekend’s invite, “but it was still a great experience for me.”

Kevin Hunt withstood a valiant effort by Andrew Caniglia to force a third set. Hunt won the second set in a tiebreaker (10-8) to capture a 6-2, 7-6 win.

“He was very athletic and got to a lot of balls all throughout our match, but in the end, especially in that tiebreaker, the difference was my serve” said Hunt.

The Corsairs finish their regular season next week with Libertyville after hosting Marist on Monday. Benet takes part in the two-day Naper Valley Invite beginning Friday.

After that, Hand will take his club to play state power Glenbrook South next Monday in advance of the ESCC tournament.

“This weekend and Monday will be a good test for us, and help us get ready for our conference tournament, then sectionals the week after,” Hand said. “I am looking forward to see how we do at both.”