Netmen crush Kennedy

Blair's tennis team creamed their Kennedy rivals today 7-0 in their first divisional match this year, leaving the team with a 2-0 record so far to boost them into the season.

Number three singles player, sophomore Gordon Su, led the way to victory with an almost perfect 6-0, 6-1 score. Su's combination of a topspin forehand, high-bouncing overhead and a quick volley to finish off his opponent earned the Blazer four consecutive points in the first set and later won Su the match.

Fellow sophomore and number one singles player Michael Price also whipped his opponent, using his rock-solid backhands as his main weapon in the match to triumph, 6-0, 6-2.. Price's whizzing ground strokes, along with his strategic placement techniques left his opponent repeatedly slicing the ball defensively into the net or out of the court.

Although he crushed his opponent, Price does not feel his technique was up to par in today's match, blaming strong winds for his weak serving. "I had serving problems," he explained. "My toss was off with it being so windy so I wasn't hitting the ball in the center of the racket."

Coach David Ngbea agree that the wind may of hindered some of the players' abilities but added that such obstacles must be overcome, noting that serving techniques can be altered if necessary. "The wind could have been a factor," he said, "but you have to make adjustments. Toss the ball further to compensate and extend a little more by lifting, not by pushing forward."

But gusts did not seem to bother senior co-captain James Phillips who served up wicked topspin after wicked topspin. Well-planted feet gave Philips a smooth, solid backhand and consistent returns left his opponent with little room for mistakes. However, his rival did put up a small fight in the second set, forcing Philips into a grueling two hour match which finally ended at 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Ngbea cites Phillips' lack of netgame for the lengthy match. "[Philips and his opponent are] both baseliners. [Phillips] doesn't come to the net when he's supposed to. It's a long game because he just lifts up the ball every time. With a consistent opponent, the point can go on for a long time."

In the doubles arena, all three duos won sizeable victories over their opponents, coming out of today's match with 6-0, 6-4 on doubles court one, 6-2, 6-0 next-door on doubles court two and a 6-1, 6-1 wipeout on the third doubles court.

With his fellow doubles teammates nodding in agreement, first doubles player, junior Lella Alemu blamed the four games his team gave up on his inability to return his opponents' weaker ground strokes. "[My opponents] hit so slow that we couldn't return the ball," he explained. "I usually play people who hit hard. Ngbea told me to hit slow but I can't hit slow."

All in all, Ngbea believes that his team has a lot of room for improvement, citing attitude and technique as the major areas in need of attention. "[My boys] are too aggressive. I'm making sure that they know it's good to be a little aggressive but that [the team] is not being counterproductive. Also, it's egotistical behavior that they're always trying to hit winners when they're most likely off balance." he said. "In terms of form, we're swinging too hard when we don't need to. We need to brush up on the ball more, roll it more. And flat serves are very risky. We want to hit the ball with more spin."

Despite his criticism, Ngbea is satisfied with this year's team and believes the Blazers have a good chance in upping their division status by the end of the season.