Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000 | 10:11 a.m.
Singles may be tennis' glamor event, but in critical high school matches, you can never underestimate the importance of doubles play. Just ask Green Valley coach Luthern Bohanan.
On Wednesday, his defending 4A state champion Gators downed Silverado 14-8.5 to capture the Sunrise Region title despite winning just two of nine singles sets.
Green Valley earned its return trip to next week's state tournament in Reno by dominating on the doubles courts, with the squad's three pairs going 8-1 against their Skyhawk counterparts.
"This year, I tried to teach them all the facets of doubles," Bohanan said. "Since (doubles matches) are worth 1.5 points each, it's important they can volley and hit overheads. A lot of these kids just learned to play doubles this year."
The Gators' top doubles duo of Joel Kielbowicz and Jon Fayeghi led the way, dropping just three games in three sets. Ryan Lorenz and Scott Moon also finished 3-0, with the No. 3 combination of Jason Harper and Jeremy Hynds going 2-1 for the victors.
"Last year, we had a team where we could play anybody anywhere," Bohanan said. "This year, we only had three kids with varsity experience -- Kielbowicz, Lorenz and Harper -- and I had to use them where it counted the most, in doubles."
For his part, Kielbowicz said he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I've been playing doubles all three years, and I love it," he said. "I think it fits my game more than singles."
Lorenz, on the other hand, admitted that despite three years as a doubles contributor, he still yearns for a chance to play singles.
"I'd much rather play singles, but in times of need, I just do what I can to help the team be better," Lorenz said.
Green Valley actually led by just two points, 8.5-6.5, after two rotations, with Skyhawk singles players Jeff Camera (3-0), Aaron Milmeister (2-1) and Mike Uriarte (2-1) helping to keep things close on the singles side.
But on the final turn, the Gators slammed the door shut on their division rivals, with No. 1 singles player Tom Mullin winning his second singles match of the day to go with three more doubles victories by his teammates.
Also on Wednesday, Bonanza downed The Meadows 16.5-6 to take the Sunset Region boys title and advance to state.
The Bengals' Sean Hubbard, Chris Wilson and Ryan Barber all went 3-0 as Bonanza swept singles play. Chris Hubbard and Jimmy Greathouse teamed up for three doubles victories.
Green Valley and Bonanza will join two representatives from Northern Nevada in the two-day state team tournament, which begins next Thursday at Reno's Plumas Tennis Complex.
Individual regional action begins today, with Sunrise and Sunset singles and doubles finals slated for Saturday.
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