Semoball

Notre Dame boys redeem previous loss to claim district tennis crown

Notre Dame’s Eli Youngblood returns the ball during Wednesday’s Class 1 District 1 championship against North County. Youngblood defeated his singles opponent Andrew Kay in two sets, 6-4, 6-3.
J.C. Reeves ~ jcreeves@semoball.com

The Notre Dame boys tennis team avenged its first loss of the season with a 5-0 victory in the Class 1 District 1 championship over North County on Wednesday at Brother David Migliorino Tennis Complex.

“It feels really good for the boys,” Notre Dame coach Donna Ryan said. “They know they played poorly when we went to North County to play. They had that feeling when we had our prayer before the match, they had that feeling they needed to get out there and focus on things they needed to do and they performed like a team at the end of the season.”

The Bulldogs swept doubles play, and teammates Charlie West and Eli Youngblood, Notre Dame’s No. 3 and 4 singles respectively, won both of their matches within seconds of each other to claim the district crown.

“Eli stood out to me because Eli figured out how to beat the boy early in the match, and sometimes it takes a while to do that,” Ryan said. “Eli had patience that he’s learned through the season. I’m so proud.”

Youngblood and his No. 1 doubles teammate Thomas Southard topped North County’s No. 1 doubles team of Landon Kater and Peyton Cheek 8-5, and Notre Dame’s No. 2 doubles team of Gavin Harden and West routed the Raiders’ No. 2 team of Bryan Basinger and Andrew Kay 8-2. The Bulldogs’ No. 3 team of Blake Schreckenberg and Diego Chahin eked out a victory in extra sets against Dreston Hoffman and Garrett Hayes 9-7 to put Notre Dame up 3-0 going into singles play.

West beat Basinger in two sets, 6-2, 6-3, and under a minute later Youngblood topped his opponent, Kay, 6-4, 6-3.

“It feels amazing that I can be a part of something to help my team win,” Youngblood said. “I felt like I played pretty good. I feel like if I can play as well as that I should win just about every game I play.”

Youngblood, a sophomore who is playing in his first year of tennis, was thrilled to have the opportunity for the Bulldogs to redeem themselves against North County.

“It felt nice to know they got lucky the first time,” Youngblood said, “and to know we’re the better team.”

Both of Notre Dame’s top doubles teams will play in Saturday’s individual sectional round at Notre Dame, and the Bulldogs also host team sectionals on Tuesday.

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