The Whitehall boys tennis team gave the Red Rovers all they could handle when Easton Area High School arrived for a Tuesday afternoon match.

With a number of matches needing three sets to decide a winner, the Zephs nearly muzzled the Red Rovers, but were eventually overtaken 4-3 by their eastern counterparts.

It was a day in which a number of players rose to the occasion, notably their No. 2 and 3 doubles teams who both won in three, with Daniel Herrera Acevedo and Jordan Saliby winning a tiebreaker in the final set. The final score of that match was 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.

In the No. 2 doubles, Reno Honzo-Vassa and Max Nuscher won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, giving the Zephs two winners among their doubles teams.

Head coach Austin Berg said the doubles teams played spirited tennis, with the Zephs winning at least one game in every match but one.

"The highlight today was definitely our doubles teams," said Berg. "I think that we matched up very nicely with them."

Berg said they had success against Easton because they were consistent. The Zephs were able to volley with the Red Rovers, taking advantage of unforced errors to win a number of points.

In No. 1 doubles, Islam Ahmed and Alexander Rohn lost 6-1, 6-0, while the No. 4 team of Hazem Abdedaal and Harshal Patel lost 6-4, 7-5.

On the far court of their singles play, Gavin Meyers was locked in a marathon match with Sergio Montes. Meyers and Montes went back and forth, both players extending the point. Meyers finally prevailed, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Berg said that Meyers was hitting the ball well, consistently getting it over the net for a chance to win the point.

In No. 1 doubles, Ahmed fell to Ryan Betts 6-1. 6-0, while No. 2 Rohn lost to Leland Addison 6-2, 6-3.

In the match, Berg said he was happy with their net play during their doubles competition, as well as their focus and being "able to come through when you're pushed up against the fence."

He said that overcoming that adversity was an encouraging sign. That allowed them to come out on top after the tiebreakers.