Titans to state tennis semifinals for 10th year in row

5/31/2014
BLADE STAFF

The St. John's Jesuit tennis team has qualified for the semifinals of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association team state tournament for the 10th straight year.

The Titans blanked Southview 5-0 in the regional finals on Monday. St. John's, which won the OTCA team title in 2011, improved to 18-2 this season.

The Titans will play Massillon Jackson in the semis on Sunday. Cincinnati Sycamore and Cleveland St. Ignatius play in the other semifinal.

In the win over Southview, No. 1 singles player Rajeev Laungani defeated M.J. Haidar 6-4, 6-0. Laungani is now 18-6.

At No. 2 singles, Adam Zychowicz (24-1) knocked off Michael Burchfield 6-0, 6-1. Kevin Brown improved to 30-1 at No. 3 singles when he defeated Nathan Podolsky 6-1, 6-1.

Ryan Brown and Jonah Carter teamed up at No. 1 doubles to defeat Jason Bigler and Matt Rothschild 6-2, 6-2. Brown and Carter are 22-2.

At No. 2 doubles, Trevor Majdalani and Ryan Issa defeated Yuran Chen and Shaleen Goel 6-1, 6-2. Majdalani and Issa are 20-2.

Ryan Brown and Kevin Brown also qualified for state in the individual state tournament. The brothers won a second straight district title last Saturday. They reached the state semis last season, and won their opening-round match on Friday.

Carter and Laungani also qualified for the individual doubles tournament. They lost to their teammates, the Browns, in the district final.