North Point tennis rolls past St. Charles

Eagles improve to 3-3 on the season

Monday, the North Point tennis team pushed the Leonardtown Raiders to the limit, falling in a 5-4 outcome.

Two days later, the Eagles got back in the win column with a 7-2 victory over visiting St. Charles in a Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Potomac division contest.

North Point (3-3, 2-1 Potomac) swept all of the girls singles matches and won four of the five doubles matches to help solidify the win on its home courts.

Five of the seven matches that North Point won were decided in straight sets with the No. 2 girls doubles and boys singles contests going the distance.

“This was a good win for us and it puts us at .500 on the season,” North Point head coach Mike Serpone said. “We faced a very good Leonardtown team and it went down to the wire, so the kids gained a lot of confidence from that.”

St. Charles sophomore Adrian Paras delivered in the No. 1 boys singles matchup with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over North Point senior Andrew Beauchamp.

“Me and my opponent, we hit a lot outside of matches and I felt pretty good about that win,” Paras said. “I was able to place my shots well today and used my serve to get ahead.”

North Point sophomore Larry Johnson battled with St. Charles’ Chandelle Dargin at No. 2 boys singles. Johnson took the first 6-3, but Dargin was in full control of the second, winning 6-1. However, Johnson answered back as he eked out the third set, 6-4.

“It was a tough match. I beat him last year, but he came out much better this year,” Johnson said. “I need to get better and keep working, too, but I was pleased with the win. In the third set, I played with more enthusiasm and stopped getting upset after every point.”

Over in girls singles, North Point’s Katie Tonucci defeated Alex Bradley 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 and Fiona Quenano also won in straight sets at No. 2, 6-4, 6-4.

North Point took care of business in boys doubles as the No. 1 tandem Justin After and Adrian Tengco cruised to a win in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Chris Simpson and Robert Carmona won at No. 2 for the Eagles, 6-1, 6-3.

North Point twin sisters Iliyah and Taliyah Coles rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 girls doubles. At No. 2, Daphine

Henderson and Natalie Jumoas dropped the first set 6-4, but responded with a 6-1 win in the second set and capped off things with a 6-2 win in the third.

In the final and most exciting match of the day at mixed doubles, St. Charles’ Katie

Fulcher and Elijah Hawkins edged out North Point’s Natae Bush and Isaiah Brown in three sets, winning 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6 tiebreaker).

“In that last set we just had to stay calm and not freak out about losing the second set,” Fulcher said. “North Point played us real tough and they were out toughest opponent so far.

Hawkins added, “It was

equal between both teams and we just battled it out. I’ve been in five tiebreakers this season and I’m still stressed. I’m glad we pulled it out.”

On his overall view of the match, St. Charles head coach Avan Smith said, “Today everyone fought hard. For the most part they laid it all on the line, but we still have some things to work on in practice. We pushed Northern to the limit on Monday, only losing 5-4. We expected to do a little bit better today, but it is what it is. We are making strides.”

At 4 p.m. today, the Spartans (1-5, 1-2) is scheduled to host Calvert, while North Point is slated to be at home versus Thomas Stone.