Woodbridge High’s boys tennis team on Monday, April 12 halted one of the most impressive streaks in Orange County high school athletics.
The visiting Warriors snapped University’s 15-year winning streak in Pacific Coast League competition by edging the Trojans on games after the sets ended in 9-9 tie.
University, facing tough competition from teams in tennis-crazed Irvine and Newport Beach, had won 129 consecutive league matches since losing to Corona del Mar on April 13, 2006.
“I’m incredibly happy for my players and the program,” Woodbridge coach Ryan Sabado said of the triumph. “Every team that I’ve put together since joining Woodbridge in 2012 has put in many hours of hard work to get the program to the level it is at today.
“Ending a streak that is older than some of my players has not fully sunk in quite yet. It’s great to edge out a close result and we are definitely going to learn and grow from the win.”
Woodbridge opened the match strong by taking a 4-2 advantage after the first round. The Warriors led 7-5 after the second round before University, the 2019 CIF Open Division champion, pushed hard toward in the final round to create the 9-9 tie.
“Woodbridge played very well and was pumped,” University coach John Kessler said. “It’s pretty crazy that we had such a streak playing in the league that we do. There are, and have been, so many great teams and players who have taken the court in this league.”
Kessler added that he was proud of the way his team responded in the third round.
Senior Rithvik Krishna swept 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 singles for University while the Trojans’ No. 3 doubles team of Omar Khayat and Nic Conta swept 7-5, 6-4 and 7-6.
University played without junior Conrad Brown, a five-star recruit like Krishna by Tennis Recruiting.
Woodbridge received two wins apiece from singles players Sam de Vries and Avery Tallakson and two victories from the doubles team of Mimi Covino and Maxim Stepanov. Jayce Spurgiasz also won a key match at singles.
The Warriors’ captains are de Vries, Jack Chen and Aryan Raikar.
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