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Patriot Sweep

Albemarle’s boys tennis team blanked visiting Orange 5-0 Monday afternoon in the Conference 16 semifinals to clinch a spot in the 5A North Region tournament.

No. 3 David Grbic was first off the court for the Patriots, shutting out the Hornets’ Alvaro Albo 10-0. Teammate Joey Michel quickly followed, defeating Gavin Artis at No. 4 by a score of 10-1, pushing Albemarle to a 2-0 lead in the Conference 16 semifinal match.

“Orange has some talented players,” AHS head coach Chip Grobmyer said. “Our guys knew that and knew they had to play good tennis.”

Charlie Shepherd provided Albemarle’s second shutout victory of the day, blanking Evan Gudka at No. 2. Top-seeded Jake Brooks was given the Patriots’ toughest test of the day, struggling early with Nathan Hoerner before reeling off seven straight games to win 10-4.

“Once I won a couple games in a row I got momentum and used that to help myself,” Brooks said. “[Hoerner] started to get tired.”

Sahil Patel gave Albemarle the victory with yet another shutout at No. 6 over Conner Forest, making the score 5-0 and sending the Patriots into the conference final, where they’ll host the winner of the Patrick Henry-Ashland vs. Halifax County match Tuesday afternoon. No. 5 Doeyap Kim was on court and leading Sam Kessler 9-2 when the match was decided.

“It’s always our goal to get to the regional semifinal match, which qualifies us for states,” Grobmyer said. “But to do that, you have to be playing your best tennis, especially because we’re in a region with the Northern Virginia schools.”

Albemarle 5, Orange 0

Singles

1. Brooks d. Hoerner 10-4

2. Shepherd d. Gudka 10-0

3. Grbic d. Albo 10-0

4. Michel d. Artis 10-1

5. Kim vs. Kessler 9-2 DNF

6. Patel d. Forest 10-0

Albemarle girls rumble past Orange

While their male counterparts were busy clinching a spot in the 5A North regional tournament, the Albemarle girls tennis team was doing the same a few courts over, rolling to a 5-1 victory over Orange Monday afternoon in the Conference 16 tournament.

Molly Napolitano got the Patriots off to a fast start by defeating Lindsay Myers at No. 3 by a score of 10-1. The Hornets tied the match at one when Molly Gudka took down Kaitlyn Grossman 10-3 at the No. 1 spot, but from that point forward it was all Albemarle.

“Orange showed they were a better team than when we played them back in March,” Albemarle head coach Rich Lindsay said. “It would have been easy to look ahead after we got by them twice in the regular season, so our juniors and seniors helped keep us dialed in.”

No. 4 Erin McCullen gave the Patriots a lead they would not relinquish by beating Michaela Allen 10-3, and Maddie Williamson quickly doubled that lead with a 10-4 victory over Alana Foster at No. 2.

No. 6 Madeline Bruggerman made quick work of Orange’s Sarah Gaskill, winning 10-0 to bring her team one victory closer to advancing. No. 5 Leah Lord finished the job with a 10-4 win over Sabrina Sherman, giving the Patriots the necessary five victories to move to the next round.

The Patriots, having clinched a berth in the regional tournament, will look to take the conference crown when they host the winner of Patrick Henry-Ashland and Halifax County on Tuesday.

“We don’t care who we play and are just trying to stay within ourselves,” Lindsay said. “May is always crazy but we’re setting that all aside and earning the chance to keep coming out here and playing tennis together as a team.”

Albemarle 5, Orange 1

Singles

1. Gudka (O) d. Grossman 10-3

2. Williamson (A) d. Foster 10-4

3. Napolitano (A) d. Myers 10-1

4. McCullen (A) d. Allen 10-3

5. Lord (A) d. Sherman 10-4

6. Bruggerman (A) d. Gaskill 10-0

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