Undermanned Maranatha Boys Tennis Falls to Monrovia, 11-7

Cherif Sauma courtesy of Amanda Lin

In a non-league affair, the evenly matched Minutemen and Wildcats were each missing two starters today, forcing each team to make adjustments to their lineups. With both teams coming off of Spring Break last week, the difference in today’s result may have been that Monrovia played a match yesterday, while Maranatha still looked very rusty.

The first round was evenly played, with Monrovia ahead 3-2, but with Maranatha’s #1 Yohan Park/Malachi Dharmaratne ahead in the round’s final set. They surendered the lead, however, losing, 6-4, giving the Wildcats an important 4-2 advantage entering the 2nd round. #2 Cherif Sauma and #2 Reggie Park/Nate Schumann won Maranatha’s two sets, 6-3 and 6-1 respectively.

The teams split the round, 3-3, with Sauma and Park/Schumann winning once again (6-0 and 6-2), and with #1 Matt Yip chipping in with a 6-4 win.

Yip won his 2nd set of the day in the 3rd round, 6-0, while Park/Dharmaratne picked up their first win of the day, 6-2. Unfortunately for the Minutemen, they could not muster up another win, though they came close in two other sets.

Maranatha High School, 169 S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 817-4000 or visit www.maranathahighschool.org.