By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Niles varsity tennis team picked up its first win of the season Tuesday afternoon as the Vikings defeated visiting Bridgman 6-2 in non-conference action.
The Vikes' only two losses came at 1 and 2 singles. Colin Smith fell to Eric Clark 6-4, 6-1 and Nate Fink was defeated by Robbie Clark 6-3, 6-3.
Dan Rodts grabbed a 6-2, 6-1 win over Miles Strebeck at No. 3 singles Julian Freas took a 6-0, 6-0 won at No. 4 singles against Tyler Carlson.
Levi Grooms and Jon Poole handed Tyler Fisher and Blake Barker a 6-2,6-0 at No. 1 doubles.
The No. 2 doubles team of Mark Neeser and Scott Bailey defeated Patrick Beach and Roger Gampel 6-1,6-4.
Dan Ott and Jonathan Smith took a 6-0, 6-0 win against Ryan Jedlicka and Peter Merrick at No. 3 doubles and Jordan Parks and Aaron Dibble defeated Ryan Frank and Ian Strebeck 6-1,6-1.
The Vikes are now 1-3 on the season and will return to the court today to face Dowagiac at home. Match times are set for 4:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
Niles junior varsity coach Greg Gunder had a laugh when talking about his team's performance against Bridgman.
The Vikes won all of their singles matches and won one doubles match, which Gunder said is a big improvement.
No. 1 singles player Nick Zechlin won his match 6-3, 6-2. Josh Pugh took a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles, Matt Ftacek took a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles and Zach Herrmann won a very good match in three sets.
Zach Payne and Tad Raven won their match at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, 6-0.
The No. 2, 3 and 4 doubles teams of Kyle Lee and John Rothfuchs, Kyle Looney and Dustin Jankoviak and Rick Jurgonski and Chris Archer all suffered losses to the Bridgman varsity players.