Jordan Ekola improved to 20-1 in Frontier League singles play on the year and the Bishop Diego boys tennis team moved a big step closer to its first conference title since 1972, beating Villanova 10-8 at home Thursday.
Cardinals freshman Matthew Grimes went 3-0, including his first win of the year over standout freshman Patrick Lenz of Villanova (5-2). Nolan Tisdale, another freshman, went 2-1 on the day and roared back from a 2-3 deficit in his final set to pick up a 6-3 win and seal the victory for the Cardinals (6-1).
“The kids have practiced real hard, and I told them that’s what it comes down to,” said coach Ray “Slash” Vazquez. “I also told Jordan that beating Lenz would basically solidify him as MVP of the league, and he responded and took him 6-2. That pretty much set the table for the rest of the match.”
The Cardinals travel to play a much-improved St. Bonaventure team on Tuesday before returning home to face lowly Santa Clara to close things out on Thursday.
BISHOP DIEGO 10, VILLANOVA 8
Singles — V: Patrick Lenz 1-2, Tyer Harder 0-3, Matthew Beinar 0-3. BD: Jordan Ekola 3-0, Matthew Grimes 3-0, Nolan Tisdale 2-1. Doubles – V: Sean McAtee-Evan Bernhoft 3-0, Wyatt Oroke-Aaron Chen 3-0, Brennan-Hernandez-Tony Kuo 1-2. BD: Sean Stratford-Jones-Nick Mathis 1-2, Art Gonzalez-RJ Escamilla 1-2, Nick Lensander-Tim Illgen 0-3. Records V 5-2, BD 6-1.
