In its toughest match to date, Brunswick gutted out a thrilling 4-3 win over Hopkins on Thursday, improving to 8-0 on the season.
As all the matches began at the same time, the race to four team-points would keep fans and coaches keenly aware of the battles across the Richman Family Tennis Courts on the overcast day and chilly day.
Knowing the strength of Hopkins, the Bruins knew winning four of seven points would be one of the biggest challenges so far this season.
The first match to end was at No. 1 doubles. Tyler Carney and Ryan Glanville played a spectacularly together, the combination of Glanville’s serves and groundstrokes, coupled with Carney’s dexterous hands at net proved too much for the Hopkins duo. Brunswick won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Moments later the No. 2 singles results were final. After putting up a good fight in the first set, Brunswick’s Johnny Rose lost, 6-4, 6-1, to a strong-serving opponent.
With the score tied at 1-1, the Bruins were up a set in every match except for No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles.
At No. 2 doubles, Boden Polikoff and Wyatt Rodger lost their first set 6-2, and rebounded for a commanding 6-0 win in the second set. In the super tie-breaker to 10 points, the Brunswick tandem fell, 10-4.
As No. 2 doubles went final, No. 3 doubles reached a deciding third set, where Hayden Hoover and Clark Davis earned a hard-fought, three-set win, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.
With a 2-2 overall score, the contest became a best-of-three event to decide the winner.
Conner Wakeman, at No. 4 singles, went to a deciding third set.
In the race to 10 points, Wakeman took an 8-6 lead, before his opponent rallied for three straight points. Trailing 9-8, Wakeman battled off match-point, as an unforced error by Hopkins, tied the set at 9-9. With the match-extending lifeline, Wakeman took the next two points for an 11-9 victory, and the all-important team point.
Leading Hopkins 3-2, Ben Powis at No. 3 singles, was also in a third set tiebreaker. At 3-3 in the third, Powis rattled off the next seven points for the match, and sealed the team win for Brunswick.
The final match at No. 1 singles played to conclusion, as Willie Turchetta lost in three sets.
