Shorthanded Falcons steal a win from Sequoias

Playing without one player due to oral surgery, the Falcons had their hands full on Friday afternoon as they hosted College of Sequoias at the Falcon Tennis Complex.  The two teams staged an epic battle that came down to the last two matches going to tie-breakers, with the Falcons coming out on top in both to snatch a 5-4 team victory.  The Falcons opened play down 0-2 after having to forfeit two matches (due to the missing player), but made up that deficit by winning the two doubles matches.  With five singles matches to play and the teams tied 2-2, whichever team could win three singles would take home the team victory.  Nataleigh Boyle put the Falcons ahead with a quick victory at #5 singles, but with wins at #3 and 4,  the Giants grabbed the lead right back, 4-3.  The Giants looked to be in control as both #1 and #2 singles won their first set.  But Falcon #1 Anjelica Frank took the second set, then won a scintillating 10-point tiebreaker, 11-9 (must win by 2) to grab a win.  That left it all on Falcon #2 singles player Erin Cline, who trailed 3-4 in the second set.  Cline rallied to win three straight games and the second set 6-4, then eventually won a marathon see-saw 10-point tie-breaker, 15-13 to win the match and team victory for the Falcons!  Falcon coach Craig Perez was astounded, noting, "Of all the matches I have coached and played in my 60-plus years, this was by far the best 'team effort' I have witnessed." 

                Doubles                                                   Singles

                Frank/Cline won 9-7                               #1 Anjelica Frank won 2-6, 6-4, 11-9

                Parkyn/Blomquist won 8-4                     #2 Erin Cline won 6-7, 6-4, 15-13

                COS won by default                               #3 Laura Parkyn lost 2-6, 1-6

                                                                           #4 Regan Blomquist lost  3-6, 2-6

                                                                           #5 Nataleigh Boyle won  6-1, 6-4

                                                                           #6 COS won by default