Wolverines sweep Panthers in rare tennis doubleheader

March 28, 2022

A rare doubleheader proved doubly fun Monday for Polk County’s boys tennis team.

The Wolverines swept two conference matches with Patton, defeating the Panthers 8-1 and 9-0 in Mountain Foothills 7 Conference action at Polk.

The Wolverines (8-2, 4-1) are set to return to action on Tuesday, traveling to R-S Central for a key MF7 match. The Hilltoppers handed Polk its only conference setback.

“A long doubleheader match that was very important for us to win if we are to stay alive in the hunt for a conference title,” said Polk County head coach Richard Davis. “Patton was a little bit inexperienced, which worked in our favor.”

A postponement of an earlier match between the two teams set the stage for Monday’s doubleheader.

MATCH 1
Polk County 8, Patton 1
Singles
1. Banks Barber (PC) d. Om Shah 7-4; 2. Jack Smith (PC) d. Coley Welch 7-5; 3. Thaddeus Ruff (PC) d. Judge Avery 7-3; 4. Eric Avellaneda (PC) d. Om Patel 7-0; 5. Gabe Alvarado (PC) d. Louie Skelly 7-1; 6. Riley Balletnine (PC) d. Ryan Maney 7-0.

Doubles
1. Barber-Ruff (PC) d. Shah-Patel 6-0; 2. Welch-Avery (P) d. Smith-Avellaneda 6-4; 3. Alvarado-Ballentine (PC) d. Skelly-Vaughn 6-0.

MATCH 2
Polk County 9, Patton 0
Singles
1. Banks Barber (PC) d. Om Shah 7-3; 2. Jack Smith (PC) d. Coley Welch 7-2; 3. Thaddeus Ruff (PC) d. Judge Avery 7-2; 4. Eric Avellaneda (PC) d. Om Patel 7-0; 5. Gabe Alvarado (PC) d. Louie Skelly 7-2; 6. Riley Balletnine (PC) d. Ryan Maney 7-0.

Doubles
1. Barber-Ruff (PC) d. Shah-Patel 6-2; 2. Smith-Avellaneda (PC) d. Welch-Avery 6-2; 3. Alvarado-Ballentine (PC) d. Skelly-Vaughn 6-0.