Boys tennis regional capsules

Updated: October 3, 2011 7:52PM

Portage regional

Schedule: Semifinals, Tuesday — No. 18 Valparaiso vs. No. 11 Pen, 4 p.m.; LaPorte vs. South Bend St. Joseph’s, 4 p.m. Championship, Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Players to watch: Valparaiso — Ben Kalisch (1 singles), Marty Pochop (2 singles), Adam Crookston (3 singles); LaPorte — Carter Perry (1 singles), Michael Varda (2 singles), Mike Curtis and Bryce Goetz (1 doubles)

The skinny: Things get even more interesting for the defending champion, Valparaiso. Though the Vikings have won the past three titles, the recent realignment has them facing an opponent ranked a few ticks higher in the polls — Penn. The Vikings knocked off much improved Wheeler and Portage in the Portage Sectional, but Penn is surely its biggest test of this tournament. On the other side of the bracket, St. Joseph’s only dropped one point out of its two matches in the Clay Sectional. LaPorte rambled through its own sectional, including a pair of sweeps, knocking off an improved Marquette team in the championship.

Next: The winner takes on the winner of the Culver Academies Regional at the Culver Academies Semistate on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Munster regional

Schedule: Semifinals, Tuesday — No. 9 Munster vs. Merrillville, 4:30 p.m.; Crown Point vs. Morton, 4:30 p.m. Championship, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Munster — Jack Heiniger (1 singles), Michael Kitchell and Ryan Heuer (1 doubles); Merrillville — Leonard Mathews II (1 singles), Alex Swierc (3 singles); Crown Point — Daniel Smith (1 singles), Boris Pavlovski (2 singles); Morton — Michael Hernandez (2 singles), Michael Rangel and Felipe Hernandez (1 doubles)

The skinny: After one of its best regular seasons and hardest sectional tests in years, can Crown Point keep things rolling? Before winning its own sectional, via a 5-0 decision over Lowell, the Bulldogs first had to endure a two-day long semifinal bout with DAC rivals Lake Central (which included four three-set matches, two of which went to tiebreakers). Of course, though, Munster again enters as the favorite. The hosts have won six straight titles and made it to the final four three consecutive years. With a depth chart flexible enough to move two of the top singles players to No. 1 doubles and still fire away, Munster’s chances are strong. Notable is the fight from both Merrillville and Morton to get this far. Both came out ahead in 3-2 decisions at a point of their sectionals and also knocked off defending champions in the process.

Next: The winner faces the winner of the Kokomo Regional (which includes defending state champion and No. 1 Carmel) at the Culver Academies Semistate on Saturday at 9 a.m. 

— By Josh Lichtenfeld

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