By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – The Mainland Mustang tennis team ran its unbeaten record to 9-0 Friday, but getting past Ocean City was a little more difficult the second time around.
After beating Ocean City 5-0 to open the season, the Mustangs topped the Red Raiders 4-1 Friday in a much closer match.
Ocean City (9-2) picked up a win at first singles, kept second and third singles close and forced both doubles teams into three-set matches. The Red Raiders have lost only to Mainland this season.
At first singles, Charles DiCicco was able to avenge his season-opening loss to Mainland first singles Daniel Wise, winning 6-4, 6-3. That was the same score as their season-opening match, but in Wise’s favor.
At second singles, Mustang Michael Walton beat Kraig Redmond 6-2, 6-4, and at third singles, Mainland’s Alex Wise beat Jackson Barnes, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), but this time the score was much closer.
At first doubles, Mainland’s Aaryan Deshpande and Jack Palaia didn’t give up a game last time, but were forced into a three-set match by Red Raider combo Max Fisher and Evan Leeds, winning the first set 6-1, dropping the second set 4-6 before rebounding to win the third set 6-0.
At second doubles, Ocean City’s Luke Wagner and Chris Ganter pushed Mainland’s Joe Gib and Evan Himmelstein to three sets before falling. The final score was 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Some of these matchups may come again at the Cape-Atlantic League championships at Vineland High School.
On Monday, Ocean City rebounded with a 5-0 win over Holy Spirit.