Munster doubles team nets state berth
Tandem of Schmidt, Wolf stays perfect, but team falls short
CULVER — Munster seniors Zach Schmidt and Frank Wolf should have been excited Saturday about getting to state in doubles.
But while high school tennis has the individual aspect, it’s still a team sport — and the Mustangs’ mantra all season was “one goal.”
“We’re advancing, but I really wanted to see the team make it to state,” Wolf said. “It’s disappointing. Things just didn’t go our way (Saturday).”
Schmidt and Wolf remained unbeaten with a 21-0 record, but the host Eagles pulled off the upset with a 3-2 win at Saturday’s Culver Academies Semistate.
Munster (19-3), which beat Culver 3-2 earlier in the season, was looking to earn its first trip to state since 2010.
Schmidt and Wolf, the Mustangs’ No. 1 doubles team, qualified for state by beating Culver’s Jordan Craig and Peter Gallagher 6-0, 6-1.
Even so, Schmidt was disappointed the team fell short of its goal.
“This was the best chance we’ve had since I’ve been with the program,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking. Unfortunately for our team, it wasn’t our time.”
That held true at No. 1 singles as Munster’s Jack Gauderman lost 6-1, 6-0 and at No. 2 doubles as DJ Fesko and Kathir Venkat lost 6-0, 6-1. It was the duo’s first setback in 21 matches.
Peyton Specht tried to bring Munster back, however, at No. 2 singles. He staged a huge rally against Henry Bilicic, but dropped a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 decision.
Specht was down 4-1 in the second set before mounting his comeback. His huge turnaround forced a decisive third set, giving the Mustangs a chance.
Specht, though, had trouble handling Bilicic’s strong serves.
“He hits the ball harder than any kid I ever played,” Specht said of Bilicic. “It’s a tough loss to take, but it really fuels the fire for next season.”
During the second set, Specht made some adjustments while trailing.
“I brought in my target zones and didn’t take as many chances,” he said.
At No. 3 singles, Munster’s Joe Webster won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
“I told the players this loss is going to hurt for a little while,” Munster coach Patrick Spohr said. “I want them to use this as motivation moving into the offseason to get better.”
Spohr said the Mustangs still fulfilled their motto.
“(Saturday) as a team we came up short on that goal,” he said. “But we still have our No. 1 doubles team alive in the tournament.
“So just because we’re done as a team doesn’t mean we didn’t achieve our goal. Throughout the season, I have set so many goals for these kids to achieve, and this is the only one that they fell short of.”