Indians beat Golden Knights, stay perfect

Posted by Press Release on April 15, 2015

Unionville boys are getting closer to winning the Ches-Mont League title with another important 5-2 win over rival Rustin Tuesday afternoon. Indians are now 12-0 (9-0 Ches-Mont).

Indians swept the doubles again against a team, which is known to develop strong doubles teams. Just two years ago, Coach Billy's boys Derek Sommers and John Lim won the PIAA doubles title. The strength in doubles is the key for Indians to stay perfect this season.

Senior co-captains, Atma Bery and Sri Garlapati played very well again, beating Rustin's Gustavo Vaselli and Luca Greco 6-2, 6-4.

On Monday, this Rustin team defeated Kennett's first doubles that was responsible for Atma-Sri's and Indians' only loss in doubles this spring. Senior Champe Fisher and Sophomore Harris Avgousti stayed undefeated, taking down Golden Knights Phil Clark and Kyle Bradley 6-2, 7-5. Indians' 3rd and 4th doubles were dominant again in their wins: Matt Daniels and Mikey Muscato over Liam Gillespie and Mosey Nsereko 6-0, 6-3, while Will Blair and Daniel Hopping disposing Nick Avrillo and Stephen Gladfelter 6-1, 6-0.

Rustin's Luke Shevlin edged UHS senior co-captain Zeyad Zaki 6-3 and 7-5 on the line 1. Zaki played very well, hitting balls hard, and dictating most points. However, Shevlin was playing unbelievable defense and he won most long rallies. Zaki was leading 4-1 in the 2nd set.

Golden Knights also won the second singles. Riley Dunn's aggressive plays wore down Hunter Whitesel 6-3 and 6-4. Hunter was leading 3-0 in the 2nd set. However, Freshman Zach Sokoloff beat Ryan Fincher 7-6(6), 2-6 and 6-1, to save Indians from being swept on singles. Sokoloff failed to hold serves in the second set committing too many double faults. He made adjustment in serves in the third set, while continuing to pressure Fincher with hard grounders and well executed lobs.

Among so many well played points in the third set, one went like the following, after baseline exchanges, Fincher hit a deep approach shot to Zokoloff's forehand, Zokoloff ran down the ball and threw a deep lob, Fincher ran back and hit a beautiful twinner (in between leg shot), Sokoloff was ready, sending the twinnered ball to Fincher's backhand corner to win the point. The shot brought cheers from the Indians assistant coach and a dozen or so UHS players.

Indians will play at Downingtown West on Wednesday, 4/15.

This year's Ches-Mont American Singles Championship will start this Thursday morning, April 16 at Kennett High School, because of the rain forecast on Friday. The semi-final and final will still be held on Saturday. Last year, Unionville's Johnny Wu won his 3rd consecutive league title. He went on to become the district and the PIAA boys tennis champion.

Singles: Luke Shevlin (R) def Zeyad Zaki, 6-3, 7-5; Riley Dunn (R) def Hunter Whitesel 6-3, 6-4; Zach Sokoloff (U) def Ryan Fincher 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-1

Doubles: Atma Bery-Sri Garlapati (U) def Gustavo Vaselli-Luca Greco 6-2, 6-4; Champe Fisher-Harris Avgousti (U) def Phil Clark-Kyle Bradley 6-2, 7-5; Matt Daniels-Mikey Muscato (U) def Liam Gillespie-Mosey Nsereko 6-0, 6-3; Will Blair- Daniel Hopping (U) def Nick Avrillo-Stephen Gladfelter 6-1, 6-0.