Heading into their match with Triway on Monday, April 9, Hiland tennis coach Tony Mullet knew that this would probably be the toughest match on the slate for the Hawks.
That proved to be true, and Hiland could not hang with the big boys of Triway, who ground out a solid 4-1 victory over the Hawks at Hiland.
Only the second doubles team of Caleb Raber and Grant Stutzman were able to get a win, slipping past Gino Palombi and Brandon Reeves 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Other than that, Hiland got taken to the back of the wood shed and beaten soundly.
Tyler Flickinger took care of Braxton Mullet 6-1, 6-2 at first singles, at second singles Spencer Yoder fell to Daniel Doan 6-3, 6-2, and Andrew Tarutani by that same score of 6-3, 6-2.
In first doubles, Adam Zimmerman and Jon Hart took care of Cameron Yoder and Cole Reynolds by a 6-4, 6-2 count.
Hiland responded one night later by putting a hurt on Central Christian, toppling the Comets 4-1.
Mullet dispensed of Justin Woodrich in quick fashion with a 6-0, 6-0 victory, and Mast followed suit at third singles with a tidy 6-1, 6-0 win over Luke Mullet.
The lone win on the evening for Central was at second singles, where Curtis Yovichin got the best of Spencer Yoder in a ferocious duel, Yovichin eventually winning 7-6 in a tiebreaker and 7-5.
At first doubles, Reynolds and Yoder pounded their way to a 6-2, 6-1 win over Jonnie Martin and Kiernan Wright, and Raber and Stutzman won by the same count at second doubles over Corey Holderman and Matt Shetler.
Spencer really had a battle tonight, said Mullet of his second singles player. They really had a great match. I thought their guy was the best position player they had. It was back and forth the whole match.
Mullet said that the rest of the matches were fairly easy victories over the Comets. He said not only did the players have to battle opponents on this night, but they also had some seriously stiff competition from the weather, which brought not just wind but cold temperatures to deal with for all players.
This game is tough enough without having to deal with that kind of weather, said Mullet with a chuckle. It was absolutely miserable. It was so cold that the ball didnt even bounce, but everyone had to deal with the same conditions. It just makes it less enjoyable when you have to endure that. I thought our kids stayed focused pretty well.
He said the victory over Central was good medicine for his team on the heels of the Triway loss.
Triway is probably the best team we will face on our schedule all season, said Mullet. They are always tough to beat. I thought it could have maybe been 3-2 instead of 4-1, because I felt like our first doubles team had a shot at winning their match, but their three singles players are so tough. Its good for us to go compete at that level of play. Its only going to make us better.
The Hawks now stand at 4-2 on the year.
