The Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis team nearly pulled out a victory in its debut under new head coach Grant Menadue.
The Jaguars battled visiting Southeast Polk down to the wire before dropping a 6-5 decision in a CIML Conference matchup on Thursday at the Prairie Ridge courts. It was the season opener for both teams.
After the two teams battled to a 3-3 tie during singles play, the Rams won three of the five doubles matches to secure the victory. The duo of Micah Christiansen and Holden Hansen rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat Zach Malone and Mason Sinclair at the No. 1 position.
Malone had earlier rallied to beat Christiansen in three sets at No. 1 singles. Teammate Tyler Zhang also rallied for a three-set win at the No. 6 spot, while Reece Dickinson won in straight sets at the No. 4 position.
The Jaguars also got victories from the No. 3 doubles team of Owen George and Riley Earp and the No. 4 duo of Caden Kolars and Kale Hurd.
Here are the match-by-match results:
S.E. Polk 6, Ankeny Centennial 5
Singles: Malone (AC) beat Christiansen, 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 1-0 (10-4); Marshall (SEP) beat Braun, 6-0, 6-4; Fuller (SEP) beat Sinclair, 6-4, 6-4; Dickinson (AC) beat Gulbranson, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0; Hansen (SEP) beat George, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1); Zhang (AC) beat Seals, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4).
Doubles: Christiansen-Hansen (SEP) beat Malone-Sinclair, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 1-0 (10-5); Marshall-Fuller (SEP) beat Braun-Dickinson, 6-4, 6-3; George-Earp (AC) beat Gulbranson-Seals, 6-4, 6-2; Kolars-Hurd (AC) beat Cech-Cunningham, 6-0, 6-2; Patterson-Huffey (SEP) beat Goff-Brooks, 6-2, 7-5.