SETTING THE SCENE: If the weather cooperates, Milford’s boys tennis team will be busy in the week ahead. The Eagles look to compete in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Tournament, as well as the GCTCA Coaches’ Classic and a date at Lakota West. But with rain and storms in the forecast, changes to the schedule are possible.
A LOOK BACK: The schedule was a difficult one for the Eagles, with schools all ranked in the top ten of the area’s coaches’ poll, including #2 St. Xavier, #4 Turpin, and #6 Walnut Hills. Friday’s match with #5 Moeller was postponed due to rain and is rescheduled for May.
Milford hosted St. Xavier B team Mon., 4/18. Playing 1st singles, Holden Owens pulled out a close third set win, 6-4, recording Milford's only win of the day. Milford lost 1-4: Owens d. Hagemeier 1-6, 7-5, 6-4; Corcoran d. Morehouse 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; Mottley d. Gibson 6-1, 6-3; Bismeyer-Hanson d. Chrislip-Jaquillard 26, 6-1, 6-4, Keating-Hendy d. Spencer-Mason 6-3, 6-2.
The Eagles faced the Trojans of Turpin, ranked #4 in the area and one of the leaders of the ECC. The play of 2nd doubles team Reed Spencer and Ben Mason was a highlight of the day. Despite a loss of the first set, Spencer-Mason fought back for a 5-7 win of set two. Turpin swept Milford Tues., 4/19 with a 5-0 final: Wendel d. Owens 6-1, 6-0; Novakovic d. Morehouse 6-2, 6-1; Caruso d. Gibson 6-0, 6-0; Lambert-Muscatello d. Jaquillard-Chrislip 6-2, 6-1; Grossman-Alvaro d. Spencer-Mason 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10).
Walnut Hills, ranked #6 in the city, hosted Milford Wed., 4/20 at Sawyer Point. J. Kendall Morehouse pushed the 2nd singles match to three, as he came back from a first set loss to win the second, 3-6. Milford fell to Walnut Hills, 5-0: Vaz d. Owens 6-4, 6-2; Hussey d. Morehouse 6-1, 3-6, 6-1; Musser d. Gibson 6-4, 6-2; Mullaney-Burchette d. Chrislip-Jaquillard 6-2, 6-2; Mullin-Manchineela d. Spencer-Mason 6-3, 6-2.
Friday’s match with Moeller was postponed due to weather. That match has been rescheduled for May 9.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Milford’s tournament play begins this week, with the ECC Tournament as well as the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association on the schedule. Look for changes in the schedule due to weather via e-mails and Milford’s twitter, @Milford_Eagles.
- Tuesday, 4/26: Milford @ ECC Tournament, Lunken Playfield Tennis Facility, 9:00 am
- Wednesday, 4/27: Milford @ Lakota West High School, 4:00 pm
- Thursday, 4/28: Milford at GCTCA Coaches’ Classic, location TBA, approximately 3:00 pm
- Saturday, 4/30: Milford at GCTCA Coaches’ Classic, location TBA, approximately 9:00 am
In other important scheduling news, the Boys Tennis Sectional Tournament Draw date is Sunday, May 1, 2016. Sectional Tournament action for Milford begins May 10 at Mason.
INSIDE THE ECC: Milford is 3-5 overall and 2-3 in ECC conference play. Turpin and Walnut Hills lead the league, both 3-0 in conference play, followed by Kings (2-0). Milford and Anderson are tied at 2-3, while Loveland sits at 1-1, and Glen Este is -40. In singles play, Holden Owens is fourth in 1st singles wins; J.Kendall Morehouse (2nd singles) and Jared Gibson (3rdsingles) each rank fifth in wins. Logan Chrislip/Zach Jaquillard are third in wins at 1st doubles, and the team of Reed Spencer/Ben Mason lead the ECC in wins in 2nd doubles.
POLL WATCH: Sycamore held on to their first place ranking in week four of the area coaches’ poll. Mason and St. Xavier flipped, with Mason in second and St. Xavier taking third. The ECC’s Turpin once again held steady at fourth, and ECC member Walnut Hills replace Moeller in fifth. Kings is ranked seventh, and Loveland enters the poll at tenth. Anderson fell out of the poll in week four but received five votes, and Milford received three votes.