Fri - 08 May
Written by Metro Sports Report
IOWA CITY - The showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in boys prep tennis lived up to its billing Friday.
The top-ranked Linn-Mar Lions handed second-ranked Iowa City West its first loss since 2011 with a dramatic 5-4 victory in a Mississippi Valley Conference battle at the Iowa City West courts.
Iowa City West had not lost since falling in the championship match of the state tournament four years ago. The Trojans had won 68 straight matches and three consecutive state titles since then.
"That's insane," Linn-Mar Coach Chris Wundram said about Iowa City West's dominance in recent years.
Linn-Mar raised its records to 15-0 overall and 12-0 in the MVC, clinching the conference title. Iowa City West fell to 13-1 overall and 10-1 in the league.
Iowa City West won the top three singles matches with its powerful lineup of Jiung Jung, David DiLeo and Cole Schneider, but the Lions went to work from there. Shane Skvor, Kyle Brendes and Lucas Huffman prevailed in the other singles matches to give the Lions a 3-3 split.
Jung and DiLeo beat Tim Paulson and Trevor McCann at No. 1 doubles, but the Lions captured the other two doubles matches to collect the victory.
The all-freshman unit of Huffman and Jack Gertsen won their match at No. 3 doubles, squaring the meet at 4-4. Ben Myers and Skvor were the last two Lions on the court and they outlasted their opponents from Iowa City West in a tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles, 6-4, 4-6, 10-7.
"Our four, five and six guys really stepped up," said Wundram. "It was very exciting."
Wundram saluted Huffman, one of the ninth graders, for collecting two crucial points for the Lions at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
LINN-MAR 5, IOWA CITY WEST 4
Singles
1. Jiung Jung (ICW) def. Tim Paulson, 6-3, 6-2
2. David DiLeo (ICW) def. Trevor McCann, 6-1, 6-3
3. Cole Schneider (ICW) def. Ben Myers, 6-2, 6-2
4. Shane Skvor (LM) def. Quinn Dawson, 6-1, 6-2
5. Kyle Brendes (LM) def. Ryan Smith, 6-2, 6-4
6. Lucas Huffman (LM) def. Brad DiLeo, 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
1. Jung/D.DiLeo (ICW) def. Paulson/McCann, 6-3, 6-2
2. Myers/Skvor (LM) def. Schneider/Smith, 6-3, 4-6, 10-7
3. Huffman/Jack Gertsen (LM) def. B. DiLeo/Yair Abramoff, 7-6, 6-2
