By Vaughn Bui
The Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) Barons played against the Villa Park High School Spartans on Tuesday, narrowly winning with a final score of 10-8. The team played extremely well in their double’s matchups but would fall slightly short in their singles matches. Ultimately, the boys’ triumph marks the first win in the spring season, kicking off a strong momentum moving into the fresh season
Key players included senior captain Vincent Nguyen and his doubles partner freshman Sho Takishima. The duo displayed incredible endurance and flexibility throughout their first set, with their drive being carried throughout the rest of their sets.
The Barons had come into the start of the new season with high confidence and energy to contrast their prior season of an overall underwhelming performance. With California skies aiding the boys by offering a picturesque warm sunny day with slight cool breezes, the Barons came prepared with Kirkland Granola Bars in hand to engage the Spartans on the blue home courts.
Nguyen and Takishima confronted the Spartans as Baron’s doubles number one. Nguyen and Takishima displayed impeccable resilience and endurance in their first set as the Spartan’s double showcased an onslaught of powerful serves, returns and volleys. The duo held out against the Spartan’s neverending stamina even as the air gradually cooled and the sun began to lower.
Trading hits back and forth and well into overtime, a low strike from a Spartan crashed into the net, sparking fading ripples that pulsed throughout the mesh. The missed strike from the Spartan’s would secure a win for the Baron’s in a marginal 7-6 win.
“It was a tough match, [and] it was very close [too]. Our opponents played very well but in the end, me and [Vincent] kind of clutched up,” Takishima said.
Celebrating the well-deserved victory in their first set, Nguyen and Takishima continued their momentum well into their second and third sets. The pair would win the rest of their matches with scores of 6-1 and 6-0.
Juniors Kai Takishima and Dylan Nguyen joined together competing as Baron’s doubles No.2. The pair were well synchronized starting off their first set with an overwhelming 6-1 win. Their energy would fall short against their new opponents, unfortunately ending with a 1-6 loss. Coming into the third set, the team worked together to ensure satisfying returns, ending with a 6-2 win.
Forming the Baron’s double’s number three was senior Nathan Luper and junior Brayden Lang. The two ensured strong momentum and coordination, leaving their first two sets with a staggering 6-1 and 6-0 win over their opponents. Yet, despite their teamwork and adaptability to their opponents playstyle, the duo would lose their third set with a final score of 1-6.
Shifting to singles number 1, Freshman Tri Le would face up against the Spartan’s starter singles player. Despite enduring against his first opponent’s clever strikes and unpredictable playstyle, Le would lose his first set with a score of 0-6. Learning from his first match, Le would then go on to win his second with a 6-0 victory but would unfortunately be unable to hold out against his third singles opponent with an ending score of 4-6.
Junior Fares Kamel faced the Spartans as the Baron’s singles number two. Though Kamel withstood a barrage of powerful serves and strikes, Kamel would lose his first two matches with scores of 2-6 and 0-6 but would secure a victory in his final match ending with a 6-0 win.
Barons’ singles number three would see junior Eric Tran coming into his first set with an impressive 6-0 win over the Spartan’s number three player. Tran would continue his agile and aggressive playstyle well into his second set but would fail to keep up with the Spartan players losing his second and third sets with a final score of 4-6 and 1-6.
With the Baron’s providing a nearly perfect sweep in their doubles matches, the FVHS varsity team are coming into their next match against Trabuco Hills High School on Thursday, at 3:00 p.m. on home courts.
