Penn stops LaPorte’s run

Updated: October 5, 2011 9:20PM

PORTAGE — The season came to an end for LaPorte and its No. 1 singles play, Carter Perry, on Wednesday in a 4-1 loss to Penn in the Portage Regional final.

Perry fell to Eric Lehikoinen 6-0, 6-1.

“(Perry) is just a great quality person and he has been a great leader for this program,” LaPorte teammate Michael Varda said.

After being blanked in the first set and dropping the first five games in the second set, Perry didn’t slump his shoulders.

Instead he rallied to grab his first game — pulling to 5-1 — and was inches away from snagging his second game, but his shot went just wide of the line.

“We never quit and if I could have another shot against him and play the way I did the last two games, it might have been a little different,” Perry said. “Lehikoinen is a tremendous player, he doesn’t make many mistakes and leaves a lot of room for error.”

As Perry flipped his tennis bag over his shoulder for the last time as he walked off the courts and the Kingsmen having already claimed the regional title. Varda wasn’t willing to let his showdown with fellow freshman Michael Wang at second singles finish without following his leader’s example by not giving in.

Varda dropped the first set 6-3 and quickly turned the tide by taking the final two sets 6-4.

“We will definitely be seeing each other a lot during these USTA tournaments and especially next season, and it is good to show everyone that LaPorte won’t go down without a fight,” Varda said.

The Kingsmen got a clean sweep in doubles, as Sean Anderson and Brad Walter had their hands full with the Slicers’ No. 1 doubles team of Michael Curtis and Bryce Goetz. But Penn’s duo eventually finished them off, 6-4, 6-2.

The tandem of Joey Stoldt and Evan Rink dropped sophomores Miles Droenge and Joshuah Corn. Three singles player Victor Lu took care of Slicers senior Ryan Garwood 6-1, 6-1.

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