QND doubles team of Dyer and Strong reaches second day of Class 1A state tennis tournament

PALATINE, Ill. — After suffering a loss in the opening round of the Class 1A boys tennis state tournament Thursday morning, the Quincy Notre Dame doubles team of Daniel Dyer and Alex Strong rebounded in a big way.

Dyer and Strong won three consecutive matches to remain alive in the back draw heading into Friday’s action.

The QND juniors lost 6-0, 6-0 to ninth-seeded Cole Palese and Tim Jones of Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge in their first match, but came back with a 6-4, 61- victory over Geneseo’s Benny Robinson and Jacob Nelson in the consolation first round.

The Raiders then defeated Grayslake North’s Chris George and Vincent Marino 6-3, 6-4. In the consolation third round, Dyer and Strong outlasted Sterling Newman Central Catholic’s Logan Palmer and Joel Rhodes 6-4, 6-7 (7), 10-5.

The QND tandem is one of 24 teams in the 64-team bracket still alive. Play is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. Friday.