By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – With the normal home courts still under renovation, getting a new top coat of sealant and paint, Bedford North Lawrence moved to the upper-level courts for the home opener. At the same time, the Stars also shifted to top-level competition.
Bloomington South, one of the perennial powers, showcased big swings and plenty of slugging firepower while cruising to a 5-0 victory over BNL on Tuesday afternoon. After winning their season opener, the Stars (1-1) won nine games but no sets against the polished Panthers.
BNL’s most competitive courts were the lower singles. Aden Ralston battled South’s Alex Chong before falling 6-1, 6-3 at No.2, while freshman Levi Thompson faced fellow rookie Albert Hur at No. 3. Hur rode the chariot to a 6-1, 6-2 triumph.
“We were unable to find a rhythm against these hard hitters,” BNL coach Ian Dillman said. “My singles slowly made their way back in the first set with getting to deuce in a lot of games, but just couldn’t cross that finish line.
“I’m really impressed with how Levi was playing out there. This was his second match on varsity, and it looked like he’s been there for a while. He started off strong in the second set, pushing his guy to hit errors, and you could tell that it was really pumping him up. And that’s tennis, it’s more than a who-is-stronger type of game, there is a mental side that many forget about.”
South’s Caleb Lian rolled past Laedon Jones 6-0, 6-0 at No.1 singles, while seniors Abe Corry and William Liao cruised past Jackson Corey and Asher Thompson 6-0, 6-0 at No.1 doubles. The Panthers finished the sweep as Elliot Trolle-Eng and Matthew Wu stopped Cruz Gomez and Riley Pruett 6-1, 6-1 at No.2.
“Our doubles need to work on strategy,” Dillman said. “We fall short in that category, whereas South does not. It’s always a great time to watch South play and learn from high-quality opponents. I look forward to seeing them in our conference and the competition they will bring with them.
“You really can’t beat yourself up over this loss. My guys are always looking for ways to improve and stand out on the court. This is the team that, regardless of what challenges they face, they want to win and get better from it. You couldn’t ask for a better team than that.”
BNL will visit Linton on Thursday.
Bloomington South 5, BNL 0
Singles
1 Caleb Lian d. Laedon Jones 6-0, 6-0
2 Alex Chong d. Aden Ralston 6-1, 6-3
3 Albert Hur d. Levi Thompson 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1 Abe Corry and William Liao d. Jackson Corey and Asher Thompson 6-0, 6-0
2 Elliot Trolle-Eng and Matthew Wu d. Cruz Gomez and Riley Pruett 6-1, 6-1
