KELSEYVILLE — Three highly competitive singles matches all went Kelseyville’s way on Tuesday as the Knights scored their first Coastal Mountain Conference tennis win of the season with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Middletown Mustangs at the Gard Street courts.
“Really a close and tight match all around,” Kelseyville co-head coach Iris Angeleri said. “All of our singles matches lasted over two hours. Just some really great tennis played on every court.”
Added Angeleri, “Some of our spectators who had planned to only come for a short time said they just couldn’t stop watching. it was so good. They stayed for the entire time.”
Middletown head coach Tracey Kucer concurred.
“Really well played. There were some long rallies in those matches,” she added.
In single action, Johnny Rixen beat Paige Astley 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 in first singles; Larue Furlani won a 6-1, 6-7 (7-5), 7-5 marathon in second singles; and Ryann Taylor defeated Sophie Kucer 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in another long battle in third singles.
In doubles play, Kelseyville’s Hanna Scully and Rylan Lipscomb beat Middletown’s Joe and John Reynoso 6-3, 6-4 in first doubles. Middletown’s lone win came in second doubles where Olivia Kucer and Reese Caldwell beat Sam Carter and Maddy Madrzyk 6-2, 6-2.
In exhibition doubles play, Kelseyville’s Victoria Scott and Olivia Vartabedian played Middletown’s Alex Imbrunetti and Lexi Walker.
“We really played hard, it just didn’t go our way,” Kucer said of the 3 1/2-hour match.
Both teams are now 1-2 in the CMC standings.
Middletown plays its first home match of the season Friday against St. Helena at the Hidden Valley Lake courts beginning at 4 p.m. Kelseyville’s scheduled home match Friday with Cloverdale has been canceled because the Eagles are unable to travel to Kelseyville.
