The Ankeny boys’ tennis team got two wins apiece from Jake McCann and Ian Ferree, but it wasn’t enough as the Hawks dropped a 7-4 decision at Dowling Catholic in their CIML Central Conference opener on Thursday.
The Maroons won four of the six singles matches and three of the five doubles contests. Both teams were without three of their varsity players.
“It was another long, tough, close meet with five third-set super-tiebreakers essentially determining the final outcome,” said Ankeny coach Steve Smith, whose team fell to 1-2 overall.
McCann rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 11-9 victory over Logan Cox in the No. 3 singles match. He then teamed up with Cam Bush for a 5-7, 6-2, 10-6 win over Colin Triplett and Evan Schultheis at No. 2 doubles.
Smith referred to McCann as “The Comeback Kid” after his two come-from-behind wins.
“We have a saying, ‘When adversity hits, are you going to fight or quit?'” Smith said. “Jake chose to fight rather than quit. That says a lot about his character.”
Ferree posted a 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Ross Clausen at No. 5 singles. He then combined with Jacob Schon for a 6-2, 6-7, 10-5 win over Clausen and Colin Recker at No. 3 doubles.
“Ian is now a combined 5-1 this year,” Smith said.
Here are the match-by-match results:
Dowling Catholic 7, Ankeny 4
Singles–Lu beat Davis, 6-0, 6-0; Schultheis beat Parkinson, 6-2, 7-6; McCann (A) beat Cox, 4-6, 6-3, 11-9; Triplett beat C. Bush, 6-4, 2-6, 10-6; Ferree (A) beat Clausen, 6-2, 7-5; Recker beat Schon, 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles–Lu-Cox beat Davis-Parkinson, 6-3, 6-1; McCann-C. Bush (A) beat Schultheis-Triplett, 5-7, 6-2, 10-6; Ferree-Schon (A) beat Clausen-Recker, 6-2, 6-7, 10-5; Alsin-Myers beat Fine-M. Bush, 6-4, 6-3; Vinnig-Cataldo beat Somers-Schuchart, 2-6, 6-1, 10-5.