Valley boys tennis sweeps Rochester in season opener

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

• 

• 

Tanner Glennie Jordan Shepherd

AKRON — The Tippecanoe Valley boys tennis team won all five matches in straight sets to beat inexperienced Rochester 5-0 in the season opener for both teams at the Valley courts Tuesday.

In a match featuring two players who are new to No. 1 singles, Noah Mellott beat Camden Zink 6-3, 6-0.

Liam Newcomer handled Jesse Smith 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.

J.J. Kammerer won his first varsity match with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Logan Fuller at No. 3 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, George Craig and Will Parker were the first to get off the court with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Griffin Newton and Luke Gottschalk. Tanner Glennie and Jordan Shepherd pulled out a nailbiter of a second set to beat Cash Casper and Ayden Smith 6-0, 7-5 at No. 2 doubles.

Mellott has moved up from No. 2 singles from last year, replacing his graduated brother William. Zink played No. 3 singles for Rochester. Just a sophomore, Zink is the only returnee from last year’s Rochester varsity.

“I’m not going to say he’s inexperienced by any means because he played varsity all last year,” Rochester coach Kyle Reinartz said. “It’s definitely a different level of competition from three to one, right? He essentially skipped two. But I thought he did well being put at one and being put in that situation and being put in that place. I think he competed very well. I think everyone on the team competed extremely well.”

As for Mellott, he used his topspin forehand to keep Zink pinned a step or two behind the baseline.

“That’s honestly one of his biggest strengths,” Valley coach Thadd Mellott said. “He likes to hit a nice deep ball on the baseline. He’s got a good topspin like William did. That’s one of his strengths, so hopefully he continues to use that to his advantage.”

Neither Newcomer nor Kammerer appeared physically more imposing than their opponent, but both relied on their quickness and athleticism.

Mellott called both Newcomer and Kammerer “little jitterbugs.”

“I would if I was him,” Mellott laughed when asked about Newcomer’s speed. “He’s built different in a way. He’s just a really good Valley athlete. He’s going to be a good basketball player. He goes hard. I think he really likes the sport of tennis. He put in a little bit more work than some of the other guys over the summer, and it shows. He’s going to be a really good player.”

Newton, Gottschalk, Casper and Smith all made their varsity debuts at doubles.

“All of them other than Ayden are new to tennis,” Reinartz said. “Ayden played as a freshman last year and didn’t get a whole lot of playing time at the JV or varsity level because some teams don’t have the JV opponents to do that with. But the longevity of it, I’m excited. I don’t know if we’re set in stone yet. I think we’re all learning, especially the new guys.”

Results: Tippecanoe Valley 5, Rochester 0

Singles

Noah Mellott (TV) def. Camden Zink (RHS), 6-3, 6-0

Liam Newcomer (TV) def. Jesse Smith (RHS), 6-3, 6-1

J.J. Kammerer (TV) def. Logan Fuller (RHS), 7-5, 6-3

Doubles

George Craig-Will Parker (TV) def. Luke Gottschalk-Griffin Newton (RHS), 6-0, 6-2

Tanner Glennie-Jordan Shepherd (TV) def. Cash Casper-Ayden Smith (RHS), 6-0, 7-5

JV results: Tippecanoe Valley 1, Rochester 0

Singles

Cooper Mills (TV) def. Will Wheaton (RHS), 3-6, 6-3, (10-8)