Netmen rock out at counties

The boys' tennis team played in the county championships throughout last week. They ended with respectable scores and a secure standing in Division One.

Number one singles player Michael Price lost in the second round 6-1, 6-0. Price's victor would go on to win the tournament. The idea that Price lost to one of the best players in the state was "pretty humbling" to Price.

Number two singles player Gordon Su lost in the second round 6-0, 6-2. Su had an AP exam immediately before the match, which he believes hindered him a little bit since he did not have adequate time to recuperate.

Number three singles player Hailiu Yang lost in the semi-final round 6-1, 6-1. Most teammates expected Yang to do very well this week and their predictions were accurate.

Number four singles player Jason Liu lost in the first round 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Couch David Ngbea was surprised by Liu's performance. "I didn't expect Liu to lose in the first round. Jason hasn't played like last year where he was undefeated till finals. Maybe he hasn't been getting enough practice in," said Ngbea.

Number one doubles team Max Gibianski and Eric Su lost in the final round 6-1, 6-1. The final round was against Churchill, the only team to beat them during the season. Eric Su described the Churchill players' aggressive playing and good executions as the main reasons why they won.

Number two doubles team Kevin Chai and Edward Hsieh lost in the semifinal round 6-3, 1-6, 4-6. The Blazers were up 3-0 in the third set and the team felt strong, but then Hsieh pulled his right leg. "I pulled my leg and then I pretty much couldn't do much during the rest of the match," Hsieh said. "I'm pretty sure we would have won. I lost all of my concentration after I pulled my leg. It was pretty ugly from there."

Number three doubles team Andy Jiang and Michael Tsai were unable to make it to counties because they were obligated to go on a magnet field trip the day of their match.

Liu thought that the team did well at counties this week but said, "It's a shame number three doubles didn't get to play. They had a good chance at counties."

Eric Su is proud of the team's performance. "We stayed in Division One. I think that's a pretty big accomplishment," Su said, a remark that Price and Hsieh also believed.

Gordon Su said the team did not play up to their potential this season because they did not believe in themselves as much as they should have.