Quincy men’s 3.5 tennis team battles to bitter end at USTA state tournament

AURORA, Ill. — The Quincy men’s 3.5 tennis team put up quite a fight.

Playing in the three-team United States Tennis Association team state tournament at the Vaughan Athletic Center last weekend, Quincy lost both of its duals 3-2 with the winner of each being decided by the final match.

Quincy, which won the Mid-South district, lost 3-2 to both the Chicago and Northern districts.

Against the Northern district, Quincy split the singles matches as Drew Koester won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 and Martin McCarthy lost 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2. In doubles action, Jeff Zellerman and Barney Bier won 7-5, 6-4 at No. 1, while Doug Mallett and Joe Laws suffered a 6-3, 6-3 loss at No. 2 and Bob Catalpa and Jim Kase lost 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3.

Against the Chicago district, Quincy swept the singles matches. Sammy Shumake won 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 and Koester posted a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 2. In doubles, Zellerman and Bryan Fasano dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision at No. 1. Bier and McCarthy battled back after losing the first set at No. 2 but fell 7-5, 6-7, 1-0, and Mallett and Jim Pitney lost 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3.

The Northern district beat the Chicago district 3-2 in the other dual and will represent Illinois at the Midwest Sectionals in Indianapolis.