4/28/10 - Sea Lions Close Out Royals' Season

By Stephanie Coats
Photos by Tim Gooszen

Fullerton, CA- The final day of match play for the Royals’ season looked much as every day had, as they took on a top ranked team and but gave no indication as they were positive, hopeful, and determined as they played their hardest. Sadly, their hardest would not be enough and Point Loma Nazarene would win the 9-0. 

Freshmen Justin Sutherlin (right) and Nathan Deghi (below) held nothing back in the doubles match up. Though they are in their first year as tennis players, both Sutherlin and Deghi will be graduating soon. For their last day of match play, the two came out strong and proved they could hold their own against other top players. Opponents Landon Hilker and Kevin Camballa withered under Sutherlin and Deghi’s power and teamwork. Seizing the opportunity, the pair stunned their opponents by earning a game win. Keeping up the intensity in the hopes of claiming the match as well, Sutherlin and Deghi battled with Hilker and Camballa over the victory until the very end. The pair of Sea Lions were just able to edge out the two Royals to steal the match 8-1.

Fellow Freshmen Greg Cobian and Christian Booher took a game off of their opponents and looked to count the match as theirs too. Luck was not on their side however, as Curt Wheeler and David Jaehnig were able to come away with the 8-1 win. Junior Henry Valiente and partner Freshman Jerry Laureano could not catch a lucky break in their doubles match either. Though they kept up the strong play throughout the match, Valiente and Laureano had to settle with a single game win before falling to their opponents 8-1 as well.

Valiente looked for redemption on the singles courts, where he had the chance to face Jaehnig. Taking a game off Jaehnig in the first set, Valiente proved he was not going to go down easily. Jaehnig fought hard and overtook Valiente in the first set, but the Royal came out playing even more impressively in the next set. With two games to Valiente’s name, the second set seemed to be tipping in his favor, but Jaehnig had enough in the tank to hold off Valiente and win the match 2-0 (6-1, 6-2).

Point Loma Nazarene 9, Hope International 0

Singles

1. Curt Wheeler (PNLU) def. Greg Cobian (HIU), 2-0 (6-0, 6-0)
2. David Jaehnig (PNLU) def. Henry Valiente (HIU), 2-0 (6-1, 6-2)
3. Trent Brown (PNLU) def. Jerry Laureano (HIU), 2-0 (6-0, 6-0)
4. Travis Albaugh (PNLU) def. Christian Booher (HIU), 2-0 (6-0, 6-0)
5. Kevin Camballa (PNLU) def. Justin Sutherlin (HIU), 2-0 (6-0, 6-0)
6. Landon Hilker (PNLU) def. Nathan Deghi (HIU), 2-0 (6-0, 6-0)

Doubles

1. Wheeler/Jaehnig (PNLU) def. Cobian/Booher (HIU), 8-1
2. Albaugh/Brown (PNLU) def. Valiente/Laureano (HIU), 8-1
3. Hilker/Camballa (PNLU) def. Sutherlin/Deghi (HIU), 8-1

The Royals finish their season at 1-19, 0-14 GSAC as the Sea Lions are now at 11-10, 5-9 GSAC.

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