SANTA ROSA — Middletown High School”s tennis team improved its non-league record to 3-0 with a 3-2 win over Rincon Valley Christian Thursday in Santa Rosa.
The Mustangs won in No. 3 singles and swept two doubles matches.
Middletown”s Maddie Kucer prevailed 6-2, 6-3 in third singles. Ariana Diaz and Chris King spotted their opponents a 4-1 lead in the first set of their No. 1 doubles match but rallied for a 6-4, 6-1 win. Robert Amante and Jonathan Nance rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 victory in second doubles.
In other matches, Jeremy Turner fell 6-4, 6-2 to George Norton in first singles.
“Jeremy has looked a little rusty so far this year, but today I saw signs of him getting back on his game,” Middletown coach Eric Soderstrom said.
Nika Gibbs, who moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 singles this week, lost to Max Cantrelll, a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 winner.
“She lost a heartbreaker to Max Cantrell in near darkness,” Soderstrom said. “I was really proud of her in the way she kept her composure in a tight match. She”s grown a lot in a year.”
In exhibition play, Connor Smith/Cassidy Parker won 8-3 and Trevor Smith/Christian Nikolov prevailed 8-2.
“I am very pleased with our team”s performance going 3-0 in the preseason,” Soderstrom said.
Middletown returns to action March 15 against St. Helena.
