April 19, 2012
Bel Air handed Fallston its first loss of the year in Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference play last Friday. The Bobcats upset the Cougars 7-4 behind strong singles play from their top boys and girls. Several matches were decided by super tie-breakers after players split sets.
Bel Air freshman Michael Quang continues to dominate the boys singles, winning his 10th match of the season without a loss. He defeated Derek Xiao in straight sets to start off the afternoon play. At boys second singles, Bel Air's Serkan Olgac needed a super tie-breaker to complete a come-from-behind win after dropping the first set to Fallston's Andrew Gounaris. Bel Air's Mike Florio finished off a sweep of the boy's singles matches by beating Fallston's Kevin Merrill in straight sets.
In girl's singles, Bel Air senior Victoria Quang continues a spectacular comeback season after sitting out her junior year with an injury. Fallston's Rachel Holehouse, defending league champion, pushed Quang to a second-set tie-breaker before Quang pulled it out to preserve a straight set victory. Like her younger brother, Quang is a perfect 10-0 for the season. Neither sibling has dropped a set this year.
At girl's second singles, Bel Air's Holly Naumann faced a tough challenge from Fallston's Nicole Kalver. Naumann, a defending league and regional champion in mixed doubles, dropped the first set to Fallston's talented freshman. But Naumann was able to battle back to win in a super tie-breaker. Fallston's Anna Holehouse was able to notch Fallston's first win of the day when she beat Bel Air's Victoria Moore in straight sets.
Fallston got their second and third points of the match from relatively easy victories in the girls' doubles matches. Abby Chaney and Alyssa Schiller won in straight sets at first doubles while Shannon Kelly and Lizetta Argiropoulos won a straight set victory at second doubles.
The boys doubles were more hotly contested. At first doubles, Fallston's Raphael Min and Scott Swatling won the first set. Then Bel Air's team of Jason Lee and Ryan Tritsch fought back to win the second set in a tie-breaker. But the Cougars spoiled the Bobcats comeback bid by winning the super tie-breaker. It was the Bobcat tandem's first loss of the season. At boys second doubles, Bel Air's Matt Rannie and James Scherba defeated Fallston's Harrison Stone and Eric Repas when they pulled the second set out at 7-5.
The mixed doubles match was also closely contested as each team won a set at 6-2. The Bel Air brother-sister pair of Xuan and Quoc Bui won the match point by taking the super tie-breaker.
Both schools lead their divisions as they prepare for the league tournament at the beginning of May.
Bel Air also picked up two more wins this week, beating Joppatowne, 11-0, and North East, 8-3.
In other tennis action, Edgewood lost 10-1 to Bo Manor Monday.
