Boys tennis posts first win of the season

The Outlaws defeated North Marion 3-2 at home in Sisters on Friday, April 23, for their first win of the season. Sisters came out on top in three close singles matches.

Dexter Payne (No. 2 singles) and Jaxon Barry (No. 3 singles) both won in long, grueling, three-set matches.

Payne beat Alex Farren 6-0, 4-6, 6-4. Dexter got down 1-4 in the final set, and the situation looked bleak. But the sophomore, who is new to tennis, turned it around. Coach Carl Click told The Nugget that Dexter scrambled when he was in trouble, and took charge in other points to win the five consecutive points for the victory.

Barry’s match was even closer. Many long points tired both him and his opponent, Kevin Rojas. Often, both players had to stop between points and catch their breath. Barry lost a first set tiebreaker, won the second set 6-4, and then wrapped it up with a 10-7 tiebreak instead of a final full set.

Click said, “Payne and Barry have won a few exhibition sets in the first two weeks of the season, but these wins were their first official matches that count in the team scoring, and provided Sisters with a team match victory.”

Nate Weber won his fifth singles match of the year at the No. 1 spot with scores of 7-5, 6-3, over a tenacious Gage Hurst. Nate has had a tender shoulder and has had to hold back on his aggressive service game so that the shoulder injury is not aggravated.

“It was closer than Weber would have liked as Hurst scrambled around the court to return many of Weber’s shots, and the Sisters senior committed more errors than he should,” said Click. “But, as has been the case in most of Nate’s victories, he settled down enough secure a win.”

Matthew Riehle won his first-ever exhibition set, and it was close. Riehle, who is new to tennis, went down 4-7, but came back to win five straight points to claim the pro set.

A day earlier, the Outlaws traveled to Philomath. Weber earned Sisters only win with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Dawson Beckstead. Weber went up 5-2 in the opening set, but let Beckstead back in. After 5-5, Nate reduced errors to win two games and secure the first set. He was more consistent in the second set, and put away easy balls at the net. The win pushed Nate nearer to the second-seed position at the district tournament.

“This win was the best of the season for Weber,” said Click. “The Philomath sophomore is one of the stronger singles players in the district.”

Against Madras at home earlier in the week, on Tuesday, April 20, Weber defeated Elmer Egoavil 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 1 singles spot.

“It was probably closer than it should have been, “ said Coach Carl Click. “Nate was super aggressive when he didn’t need to be, but he was trying to work on putting the ball away with hard ground strokes. That led to a few more errors than usual.”

Dexter Payne and Jaxon Barry put up a good fight at No. 2 doubles, but the more experienced Riley Adair and Jesus Cruz came out on top 6-2, 6-4.

Click said, “Their improvement from set one to set two was noticeable as they were more precise and accurate with their shots to keep it away from an aggressive net player, so points lasted longer and were more competitive.”

Matthew Riehle, in his first-ever high school match, teamed up with KJ Sweet at No. 2 doubles. The duo lost in an 8-4 pro set.

The Outlaws posted two wins in exhibition singles. Payne won 8-4 and Sweet dominated with an 8-0 victory, and Barry won his match 8-1.

Sisters was scheduled to host Stayton on Tuesday, April 27. They will travel to Woodburn on Friday, April?30.