Boys' Tennis Game Summaries

The quarterfinal round of the WPIAL AAA Boys Team Tournament took place Monday afternoon for the Tigers at the home of the Allderdice Dragons, in Schenley Park.  When the balls stopped bouncing, the third-seeded Dragons bested the sixth-seeded Tigers 3-2 in a contest that saw multiple tight matches.  The loss put a halt to the Tigers’ surprising and successful 2019 season.

Number one and number three singles were taken by Allderdice over juniors Ven Naik and Ethan Vodovotz respectively.  The Tigers’ scoring parade consisted of senior Rohan Cowlagi and freshman Atharva Sumant taking the number two doubles contest in straight sets.  Additionally, senior partners, Mark Chuirazzi and Jerry Huang outlasted Leo Sweeney and Benji Gluzman in a tense and exciting three set match at number one doubles. Each of the last two sets culminated in long tie breaks.   Senior Soureesh Moturi struggled out of the gates at number two singles before making a contest out of his match with Kazuma Parkinson.

The loss brings the Tigers’ successful season record to a 14-2 overall mark, including 7-0 in Section 2 play, 6-1 in exhibition play and 1-1 in WPIAL Tournament action.  Congratulations to senior swingmen Mark Vlad and Manav Kathir for their first year of varsity action.  Congratulations to seniors Rohan Cowlagi and Soureesh Moturi for their three year varsity careers.  Finally, kudos to four-year starters, seniors Jerry Huang and captain Mark Chuirazzi for leading the way in outstanding doubles action.

Match Summary – 05/06/19
Allderdice–3  North Allegheny—2

Singles
#1   David Missry (A) def.Ven Naik (NA) 6-0, 6-1
#2   Kazuma Parkinson (A) def. Soureesh Moturi (NA) 6-1, 7-5
#3   Sammy Nayhouse (A) def. Ethan Vodovotz (NA) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
#1   Mark Chuirazzi/Jerry Huang (NA) def. Leo Sweeney/Benji Gluzman (A) 7-5, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (4)
#2   Atharva Sumant/Rohan Cowlagi (NA) def. Omri Raz/Martin Staresinic (A) 6-3, 6-2

The first round of the WPIAL AAA Boys Team Tournament began Wednesday with the sixth-seeded Tigers hosting the 11^th-seeded Hempfield Area Spartans on the NASH courts.  When the results were tallied the Tigers took a 5-0 sweep to advance to the quarterfinal round.

Leading the way for the Tigers was senior Soureesh Moturi at number two singles who handled Aidan Kelly in straight sets, losing only one game in the process.  Repeating the same formula used by Moturi, junior Ven Naik defeated Mason Harbaugh at number one singles.  The clincher came courtesy of junior Ethan Vodovotz who breezed by Marcus Ryan in straight sets. The two doubles duo of freshman Atharva Sumant and senior Rohan Cowlagi defeated Casey Detwiler and Alex Woodward in straight sets.  Senior Mark Chuirazzi teamed with junior Sanjit Beriwal to man the one doubles slot and push past Ryan Beckering and Brenden Slowoski, also in straight sets.

The win moves the Tigers’ season record to a 14-1 and 1-0 in WPIAL play.  The team moves on to WPIAL Quarterfinal action Monday afternoon against the winner of the Allderdice-Moon matchup.  Opponent, time, and match location were not available at press time.

Match Summary – 05/01/19

North Allegheny—5   Hempfield–0 

Singles
#1   Ven Naik (NA) def. Mason Harbaigh  (H) 6-1, 6-0
#2   Soureesh Moturi (NA) def. Aidan Kelly (H) 6-0, 6-1
#3   Ethan Vodovotz (NA) def. Marcus Ryan (H) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
#1   Mark Chuirazzi/Sanjit Beriwal (NA) def. Ryan Bickering/Brenden Slowoski (H) 6-2, 6-4
#2   Atharva Sumant/Rohan Cowlagi (NA) def. Casey Detwiler/Alex Woodward (H) 6-2, 6-3

Outdoors on the NASH courts Monday afternoon, the team of senior Soureesh Moturi and junior Ven Naik represented the Tigers at the WPIAL AAA Doubles Championship.  Ranked the number five seed overall, the NA duo defeated Advait Kulharni and Vineet Madduru of Franklin Regional (12^th seed) 10-3 in the first round.  The quarterfinal round saw a different story as the Tigers fell 10-1 to the Allderdice team of Kazuma Parkinson and Sammy Nayhouse, the fourth seeded team. Also representing the Tigers, senior Rohan Cowlagi and freshman Atharva Sumant entered the tourney as the 16^th seed and faced the number one duo of Naman Dua and Coklin Gramley of Shady Side Academy, falling 10-1.    

Congratulations to all four Tigers for advancing from section competition to play as part of the top 16 WPIAL doubles teams!

The AAA Section Two Doubles Tournament continued play Thursday afternoon at the Oxford Athletic Club and one of the two Tigers’ squads was crowned champion.  Senior Soureesh Moturi and junior Ven Naik, operating out of the number two seed, defeated Pine-Richland’s number one team Kang-Young Kim and Elliot Alexander in the semi-final round.  The straight-set 6-1, 6-1 win propelled the Tigers into the finals against Moon Area.  In the championship tilt, Moturi and Naik tangled with the overall number one seed in the form of Nick Magnelli and Avant Shetty.  With Naik’s consistent serve and aggressive net play coupled with Moturi’s superb ground strokes, the Tigers prevailed in straight sets again, 6-0, 6-1. 

Playing out of the No. 12 seed, senior Rohan Cowlagi and freshman Atharva Sumant lost to the Moon duo of Magnelli/Shetty in their semi-final contest.  In the 3^rd place consolation, the NA duo fell in a well contested three set match to the Pine-Richland duo of Kim/Alexander.

Both Tiger teams advance to the WPIAL AAA Doubles Championship, slated to start on Monday, April 29 on the NASH courts.

The Section 2 Doubles Tournament commenced play Wednesday afternoon on the NASH courts and the Tigers were able to send two teams to the semi-final round.  Playing out of the #12 seed, senior Rohan Cowlagi and freshman Atharva Sumant defeated North Hills’ number one squad of Connor McEwen and Nathan Belack 10-2 in the first round.  They then played and beat Butler’s number one team, Trevor and Tyler Bell, 10-5 in the quarterfinal round.  Senior Soureesh Moturi and junior Ven Naik secured the #2 seed and used that advantage to beat Seneca Valley’s second squad, Parker Logue and Matt Kraft 10-3 in the first round.  The quarterfinals saw the NA duo beat Pine-Richland’s second entry, Jason Minicozzi and A.J. Silipo by a 10-3 margin

Moturi and Naik will take on the Pine-Richland’s number one squad while Cowlagi and Sumant will tangle with Moon’s number one tandem in Wednesday’s semi-finals.  Match time is scheduled for 1:30 PM on the NASH courts.