Gilroy beats Haybalers 5-2 in tennis league opener Wednesday
Gilroy
After going 3-0 in the preseason, the San Benito boys tennis team suffered their first loss of the year when they fell to Gilroy 5-2 Wednesday in the Tri-County Athletic League opener.
San Benito’s lone wins came at the No. 1 doubles pairing of DJ Nielson and Jon Rudolfs, and the No. 3 singles with Joe Frusetta.
Aside from those two, though, the Mustangs managed to take the remaining five matches as well as the league-opening win.
“We’re capable of playing better,” coach Chris Yoder said. “But we didn’t today. They played better than us today, for sure.”
Nielson and Rudolfs won their match somewhat easily, defeating Gilroy’s Mitch Souza and Zach Zingh 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 1 doubles match.
Mustangs Sangmin Park and Greg Gardner defeated Michael Labuguen and Conner Baray 7-5, 7-6, while Gilroy’s Derek Okada and Kevin Lee beat Michael Frelier and Thomas Parcell 6-0, 6-1.
In singles, San Benito’s No. 3 Joe Frusetta won 8-6, 6-4 against Sai Erdenechemeg, but Gilroy took the three remaining matches.
No. 1 Vinh Vong beat ‘Baler Derek Panger 6-0, 6-4, while Mustang Matt Chan beat Mark Tobias 6-2, 7-5. Gilroy’s No. 3 Ryan Azad beat Tony Culler to round out the matches, 7-5, 6-3.
San Benito will look to rebound in league when they travel to Salinas on Thursday to play Everett Alvarez at 3:30 p.m.
