E.C. Glass sweeps Falcons

The E.C. Glass boys tennis player Nelson James plays Fauquier's player Craig Pierce in the team championship match of the Northwest Region Tournament on March 19, 2008.

By: Ted Allen | The News & Advance
Published: May 20, 2008

Few teams have challenged E.C. Glass in boys tennis this season, but Monday’s 5-0 sweep of Fauquier County in the Northwest Region tournament should serve as a good tune-up for next Tuesday’s Group AAA state quarterfinal match.

“We’ve had good competition but not in spots 1 through 6,” Hilltoppers coach Ed Dawson said. “Everybody had good competition today. Fauquier’s a good team, it was a good test for us.”

Glass needed 1 hour, 35 minutes to defend its regional title against the Falcons, an hour and one minute more than was required to finish off Potomac in last Tuesday’s first round. The Hilltoppers had to battle a little bit harder for the championship.

“When you get to this point of the year, you’re going to face good competition and if you’re not ready for it, you’re going to get blown off the court,” Dawson said. “The guys really rose to the occasion today.”

George Gianakos and Jay Hanna set the tone by winning their No. 1 and No. 5 matches by 6-1, 6-1 scores.

“I played really aggressively today,” Gianakos said. “I definitely didn’t let up. I kept my focus the whole match.

“Everyone’s playing really well right now,” he added.

Andrew Frey showed similar command in sweeping Ryan Baisden 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.

“I tried to stay on top the whole match and play consistent the whole time,” Frey said. “I just tried to get all my first serves in, really just keep the ball in play and put the points away with my forehand.”

Nelson James, who moved up to No. 2 in the middle of the season, clinched the team triumph with his 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Craig Pierce.

It was the third consecutive season the two players have met, with James winning in three sets each time — at No. 5 singles as a freshman and No. 4 last spring.

“I usually tend to stay back and grind it out from the baseline,” said James, who rebounded from a slow start to pull out the three-setter.

“His cross-court shots close to the net got (Pierce) out of position,” Dawson added.

With the win, Glass gets to host next Tuesday’s match at 11 a.m., as it did last year when a student crowd of close to 400 cheered it to victory.

“We’re going to have a hard first match against Deep River,” Frey said. “We’re all going to have to play our best.”