After traveling for more than three hours each way from Riverside on May 11, the Malibu High boys’ tennis team had reason to celebrate its 14-4 victory against JW North in the first round of the CIF Division III playoffs. The journey earned them a home match and the opportunity to advance in play. However, the Sharks next had to encounter Cerritos, the No. 2 overall seed in the playoffs.
Malibu had the opportunity to play on the campus of Pepperdine University, 10 minutes from its own school. While the drive was much shorter, the results were not as pleasing as the first round. The visiting Dons were too strong and had too much depth for the Sharks to overcome. They ended Malibu’s season by winning the second round matchup, 15-3, last Friday afternoon.
Cerritos, the undefeated Suburban League champions, improved to 20-2 overall, while Malibu ended the season at 10-5.
“They are a good team,” Malibu Coach Bruce Young said. “They are a well-coached team and a well-mannered team. They are deserving of their second seeding.”
The Sharks No. 1 doubles team of senior Captain Davis Thacker and junior Jack Johnson did all that they could to help Malibu stay afloat against the tough Dons. Thacker and Johnson lost their first set in a grueling tiebreaker, 6-7 (1-7), won their second 6-4 and lost their third in another nail biter, 5-7.
“Cerritos had two really good singles players and a lot of good doubles teams,” Thacker said. “Despite the fact that we lost, I really don’t think that one match can take away from what we’ve done this season. We battled as a team. Our guys really rallied overcoming injuries. I couldn’t be happier with the way that the team performed this year.”
Leading the way for Cerritos was singles standout Ganesh Alagappan, ranked No. 40 in the 18-year-old division of Southern California. Alagappan won both his sets 6-0, including a shutout of highly regarded Malibu freshman Gabriel Rapoport. Alagappan was extremely impressed with the 14-year-old Rapoport.
“He played much better than any freshman that I played this season,” Alagappan said. “His ‘groundies’ were really mature for a freshman. He moves really well too. Those are two things that you need to make it. He will be a top 20 or top 30 player by his senior year.”
Rapoport bounced back and defeated the Don’s No. 3 singles player, Curtis Yu, in a battle of left-handers, 6-1.
“It was a wonderful year,” Young said. “These guys were a good bunch of kids. They all got better as the season went on. I enjoyed coaching them.”