USTA league race heats up, KTC and the Spin Doctors share first place
Singles wins and a strong #3 doubles finish give KTC the edge over B4B in a close USTA league match.
URBANA — KTC edged closer to the pinnacle of the USTA Men's 3.5 league standings, clinching a hard-fought 3-2 triumph against B4B at Atkins Tennis Center on Wednesday night. The victory lifts KTC into a tie for first place alongside the Spin Doctors, setting up key matchups in the coming weeks.
Yongjoo Jung set the tone for KTC in singles play, securing his third win of the season with a composed 6-3, 6-4 decision over Lorenzo Vergari at the #1 spot. Jung has shown versatility this year, competing across multiple league levels, including 4.0 and 6.5 Combo action.
Andy Hur followed with a commanding performance at #2 singles, rolling past Robbie Bauer 6-0, 6-3 to give KTC early control. The team sealed its victory at #3 doubles, where Lino Jo and Sung Min Moon turned in a dominant 6-2, 6-1 effort against Tim Ellis and Charles Nerone.
B4B answered back in a pair of tightly contested doubles matches. At #1 doubles, Nitin Bhosale and Joseph Reiter edged Andrew Diep and Kim Junghyun in a comeback, 6-7, 6-3, 1-0. Meanwhile, Steve Mertens and Christopher Stewart secured another point for B4B, rallying past Jaemin Yang and Yoochan Shin 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 in a gritty effort.
Looking ahead, KTC will take on the Smokin’ Aces, who are coming off a 5-0 loss to the Spin Doctors. B4B aims to bounce back against those same Spin Doctors and hand them their first defeat of the season.
ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden's Tyler Hess is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal in the first half. The junior led the team to a 5-3 win over University High on Wednesday at Dick Duval Field. Hess, who is the top finisher in the area with a hat trick in the team's first three matches this season, will try to make it four in a row in the undefeated Spartans' road game against the Vermilion Valley Conference's Hoopeston Area Cornjerkers on Friday. More photos and a game recap coming soon.
