Johnson advances to Region

By: Staff | Orange County Review
Published: May 21, 2009

The 2009 season ended for the OCHS boys tennis team in disappointing fashion last week, falling to eventual Jefferson District Champion Western Albemarle 6-0.
But it’s not yet over for the Hornets’ top singles player.
The Warriors (14-1, 12-0) had little trouble with the Hornets, sweeping singles and doubles play on their way to victory.
Opening with doubles play, Joey Manilla and Alex Preve topped Orange's Rob Johnson and Michael Kayajanian 6-3, 6-0. Cam Scot and Teddy Nelson beat Brendon Chambers and Zach Upchurch 6-1, 6-1. In a match-up of third seeds, Alex Politis and Riley Wilson topped Orange's Evan Garr and Tonto Duncan 6-0, 6-0.
Needing only three singles wins to secure the victory, the Warriors netted them quickly.
Manilla topped Johnson in a match-up of top seeds, 6-0, 6-1. Two seed Preve beat Kayajanian by the scame score and Ahmad Khokar blanked Garr 6-0, 6-0.
The Hornets’ team season ended with the loss.
Meanwhile, top doubles seed Johnson and Kayajanian faced Manilla and Preve again in the district doubles tournament. The Western duo-the eventual district doubles champs-blanked the Hornets 6-0, 6-0 Friday.
Johnson advanced to the district singles finals, by beating Charlottesville's Sam Barry 6-4, 6-1 in Thursday's semifinals. But the Hornet senior ran into the Warriors' Manilla again, falling 6-1, 6-3 to finish as the Region II runner-up in a match closer than the score indicated.
Johnson advances to the Region II singles tournament Tuesday at the Boar’s Head in Charlottesville.