Mellott, Newcomer pull out 3rd set wins, but Valley falls to Triton

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Noah Mellott

AKRON — The Tippecanoe Valley boys tennis team’s match against visiting Triton Monday had a happy ending if not the desired outcome.

Noah Mellott and Liam Newcomer won three-set matches at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, but the Trojans claimed a 3-2 win.

Mellott won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 over Max Ritchison. Liam Newcomer won 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 over Colton Large. Both matches lasted well over two hours.

It also continued a trend. The entire team played three-set matches in a 3-2 win over Plymouth Thursday.

Mellott closed out Ritchison, a taller, imposing presence, with passing shots whenever Ritchison approached the net.

“So that is something that Noah has been working hard on,” Valley coach Thadd Mellott said. “A lot of kids, especially at one singles, they like to come to the net and force some action. And Noah in the past, like as a junior, he struggled with that. So we’ve been working hard in practice, not only just to be a groundstroker, but how to attack the guys that attack him. I think today he started putting it together a little bit.”

Newcomer and Large appeared to have differing strategies. Newcomer appeared to paint the corners while the left-handed Large tried to keep Newcomer in the middle of the court and limit Newcomer’s advantage in speed and athleticism.

“Liam likes to move the kids around too, and he’s very good at it,” coach Mellott said. “And he himself is quick, so he doesn’t mind moving around a little bit himself. … He was hoping to just have a waiting game and wait for Liam to make a mistake, but tonight it worked out in our favor, at least there.”

Triton’s three points all came in straight sets.

Levi McFarland beat J.J. Kammerer 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. Max Johnson and Brayden Nifong topped George Craig and Will Parker 6-3, 7-5 at No. 1 doubles. Clayton Andrews and Brady Heckaman handled Tanner Glennie and Jordan Shepherd 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.

“The team played better tonight than they did against Plymouth,” coach Mellott said. “Triton’s a better team. Triton’s a tough team. They’re 7-2 for a reason, and their two losses haven’t been against pushovers. … I knew they were good coming in, and I knew we would have to play our best at best positions, and we came close. We came close to pushing a third set in a couple different spots, but we just didn’t quite get there.”

Valley dropped to 4-1 with matches against Manchester and Goshen upcoming this week. Their four conference matches against Jimtown, Knox, Bremen and John Glenn will occur in a 10-day span between Sept. 8-17.

“Absolutely ramping up,” coach Mellott said of the schedule. “It doesn’t get any easier.”

Triton won the JV match 1-0. Malaki Christian and Cooper Mills lost a doubles match for Valley.

RESULTS: TRITON 3, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 2

Singles

Noah Mellott (TV) def. Max Ritchison (TRI), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

Liam Newcomer (TV) def. Colton Large (TRI), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4

Levi McFarland (TRI) def. J.J. Kammerer (TV), 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

Max Johnson-Brayden Nifong (TRI) def. George Craig-Will Parker (TV), 6-3, 7-5

Clayton Andrews-Brady Heckaman (TRI) def. Tanner Glennie-Jordan Shepherd (TV), 6-4, 6-0

JV RESULTS: TRITON 1, VALLEY 0

Doubles

Malaki Christian-Cooper Mills (TV) lost 8-3.