Eastlake outlasts Skyline in strong singles showing
October 7, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
Mike Bischak, Eastlake’s No. 4 singles tennis player, was in a tough spot Sept. 28 as he battled against Skyline’s Mitchell Johnson.
The match on Eastlake’s courts was near the three-hour mark and Bischak was tired. But he fought through and led Eastlake to a 4-3 win over Skyline.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Spartans had swept the doubles matches to go up 3-0, but Eastlake’s second and third singles players had taken out their opponents fairly easily in two sets each, according to coaches and players.
With the match tied 3-3, Bischak’s performance would decide the entire match’s outcome.
“I just happened to be the last one off,” Bischak said after the match. “It was a little bit nerve wracking.”
Johnson took the first set 7-6 after winning a tiebreaker. Bischak and Eastlake coach Bud Peterson said he lacked aggressive play. But Bischak knew he had to turn the tables in the second.
Bischak won 7-6 after a tiebreaker in the second and overcame Johnson 6-4 in the third.
In the second, he played much more aggressively, Peterson said of the latter sets. He told Bischak to focus less on possibly losing and more on executing shots.
“The serve was huge,” Bischak said. “Just about every point, I tried to get to the net and put it away there.”
Bischak’s dominating serve gave him plenty of key points, he said.
But he won it by hitting tough shots at the net, taking more risks and keeping Johnson on his heals.
“He was hitting backhands down the line when he needed to. In the second, and then in the third set, he took control,” Peterson said. “That’s where he won. He was putting the ball away. Mike has a tremendous serve. Mitchell (Johnson) had a tough time getting the ball back on serves.”
Skyline’s No. 1 (Tyler Van Grunsven) and No. 3 (Nasi Teodosiadis) singles players were out due to illness. But Eastlake seemed to outlast Skyline’s remaining singles players during the long match, Skyline coach Bettina Gehle said.
In No. 1 singles action, Eastlake’s Vicente Varas beat Aman Manji 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
“Eastlake was tough. This was a close match. I think at the end it became a conditioning issue for Aman,” Gehle said. “The other player (Varas) was fresher.”
Skyline easily took the doubles sweep early on. Win Hubbard and Ben Huang beat Drew Choco and Jon Lockwood 6-1, 6-4 and Zach Oseran and Max Kerwien beat Trevor Hudson and Chris Rheinberger 6-0, 6-1.
Skyline’s Justin Kahng and Steven Do beat David Parkinson and Bennett Johnson 6-0, 6-4.
Huang, a Skyline junior, said he watched the deciding match between Bischak and Johnson.
“The game felt really close, but (Bischak) would pull ahead right when it was the most important,” Huang said. “Everyone really tried their best and it was exciting to watch the end.”
In other singles action, Eastlake’s Kevin Lhao beat Brayden Hansen 6-4, 6-2. Adam Nakanishi beat Skyline’s Larry Laio 6-2, 6-4.
“They deserved it in the end,” Gehle said. “I wouldn’t say they had more luck than we (did). They executed better in the right moment.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Mike Bischak, Eastlake’s No. 4 singles tennis player, was in a tough spot Sept. 28 as he battled against Skyline’s Mitchell Johnson.
The match on Eastlake’s courts was near the three-hour mark and Bischak was tired. But he fought through and led Eastlake to a 4-3 win over Skyline.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Spartans had swept the doubles matches to go up 3-0, but Eastlake’s second and third singles players had taken out their opponents fairly easily in two sets each, according to coaches and players.
Skyline’s Aman Manji lost to Eastlake’s Vicente Varas 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. File Photo
With the match tied 3-3, Bischak’s performance would decide the entire match’s outcome.
“I just happened to be the last one off,” Bischak said after the match. “It was a little bit nerve wracking.”
Johnson took the first set 7-6 after winning a tiebreaker. Bischak and Eastlake coach Bud Peterson said he lacked aggressive play. But Bischak knew he had to turn the tables in the second.
Bischak won 7-6 after a tiebreaker in the second and overcame Johnson 6-4 in the third.
In the second, he played much more aggressively, Peterson said of the latter sets. He told Bischak to focus less on possibly losing and more on executing shots.
“The serve was huge,” Bischak said. “Just about every point, I tried to get to the net and put it away there.”
Bischak’s dominating serve gave him plenty of key points, he said.
But he won it by hitting tough shots at the net, taking more risks and keeping Johnson on his heals.
“He was hitting backhands down the line when he needed to. In the second, and then in the third set, he took control,” Peterson said. “That’s where he won. He was putting the ball away. Mike has a tremendous serve. Mitchell (Johnson) had a tough time getting the ball back on serves.”
Skyline’s No. 1 (Tyler Van Grunsven) and No. 3 (Nasi Teodosiadis) singles players were out due to illness. But Eastlake seemed to outlast Skyline’s remaining singles players during the long match, Skyline coach Bettina Gehle said.
In No. 1 singles action, Eastlake’s Vicente Varas beat Aman Manji 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
“Eastlake was tough. This was a close match. I think at the end it became a conditioning issue for Aman,” Gehle said. “The other player (Varas) was fresher.”
Skyline easily took the doubles sweep early on. Win Hubbard and Ben Huang beat Drew Choco and Jon Lockwood 6-1, 6-4 and Zach Oseran and Max Kerwien beat Trevor Hudson and Chris Rheinberger 6-0, 6-1.
Skyline’s Justin Kahng and Steven Do beat David Parkinson and Bennett Johnson 6-0, 6-4.
Huang, a Skyline junior, said he watched the deciding match between Bischak and Johnson.
“The game felt really close, but (Bischak) would pull ahead right when it was the most important,” Huang said. “Everyone really tried their best and it was exciting to watch the end.”
In other singles action, Eastlake’s Kevin Lhao beat Brayden Hansen 6-4, 6-2. Adam Nakanishi beat Skyline’s Larry Laio 6-2, 6-4.
“They deserved it in the end,” Gehle said. “I wouldn’t say they had more luck than we (did). They executed better in the right moment.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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