Millbrook boys’ tennis tops Sanderson

A thriller at the No. 4 court wasn’t enough for Sanderson to get past Millbrook boys’ tennis.

Freshman Greear Webb, in a valiant effort, picked up the lone singles win for the Spartans in their 7-2 loss to the visitors Monday.

The Wildcats swept the doubles and fared just fine without twin brothers Matthew and Michael Moody.

Millbrook senior No. 1 Austin Cobb was in the top slot for the first time this season with the absence of the brothers, who were on college visits.

Cobb, playing in his fifth match of the year after recovering from a broken wrist, remained undefeated on the season with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Sanderson No. 1 Scott Pickard. The players battled tough elements on a chilly day.

“It was really windy today, and that was a lot of adversity I had to deal with,” Cobb said. “When it’s windy like that, you just have to make more balls than your opponent. Heading into the match, I knew I had him overmatched, I just had to stay focused and get the job done.”

Cobb had to battle a tough drop shot from Pickard throughout the match.

It was no bother to him when the pair started the second set.

Cobb asserted himself early, taking a 4-1 lead, and his best advantages came at the net.

“I was just looking to … attack and get the ball deep, deep, deep and work my way into the net,” Cobb said. “I know when I’m at the net, I definitely have the advantage because my volleys are pretty good.”

Millbrook’s got a doubles win from Alex Crabtree and Josiah Schainblatt, who was half of last year’s state runner-up team with Cobb, when they topped Webb and Grayson Wilkerson, 9-7.

Cameron Horne and Alex Moss picked up a doubles win for Sanderson, defeating Sean Gelband and Colin Weiber.

“We really want to focus on what we’re doing and keeping the ball in play,” Sanderson coach Mike Bellissimo said. “Millbrook is such a quality team from top to bottom, so they forced a lot of our errors. That will be our focus: Getting better everyday.”

Three who mattered

Austin Cobb, Millbrook: Playing for the first time this season at No. 1, the senior dominated his opponent in the second set.

Alex Crabtree, Millbrook: He got out of a tiebreaker to help give Millbrook an unbeatable advantage going into doubles. He came through with a doubles victory as well.

Greear Webb, Sanderson: He collected the lone win for Sanderson in a match that drew the attention from the other players, as the No. 4s were the last to finish in singles. Webb defeated Ryan Jabr, 7-6 6-3.

They said it

“Those two young men had a good match today, it was very close and today it went Sanderson’s way on that court,” Millbrook coach Craig Isdahl on the No. 4 singles match. “It’s always good to see good competition with these young men.”

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 9:48 PM with the headline "Millbrook boys’ tennis tops Sanderson."