KNIGHTS PULL OFF BIG WIN IN KANSAS

The Barstow boys tennis team took on perennial KS 3A state champ, Kansas City Christian, at Harmon Park yesterday and took a major step toward the Crossroads Conference championship.  They won 7-2.

KCC fielded a strong team, but the Knights opened strong by sweeping all three doubles courts.  At #1 doubles, Richey King and George Colombo in his first action at #1,  with strong serves and solid service returns picked up the early lead and held on for a solid 8-6 victory.  

At #2 doubles, senior Sunil Reiland and freshman Sankeerth Gandhari both served well and dominated the net for an 8-3 win. At #3 doubles senior Matthew Justis and freshman Dylan Markey dominated throughout with a strong 8-1 victory. 

On the singles court, the first four Knights to take the court fell behind early.  The Knights dropped the #2 and #3 singles pretty quickly leaving the match in the hands of the middle and bottom of the lineup.  Both Richey King and Matthew Justis had a long night of it against very strong players with extended matches that went into tiebreakers.  Matthew was the first to finish with a strong tiebreak finish, winning 9-8 (7-2).  The Knights needed a 5th win to secure the team victory and that work was turned in by a dominating single's performance by George Colombo who won 8-2.  Shortly after, Richey King rallied from behind and fought off three match points to win the tiebreaker 9-8 (10-8).  In the end, Dylan Markey cleaned up for the Knights at #6 with an 8-0 victory.  

The boys line up against Rockhurst at the Plaza on Thursday.