The Whitehall boys tennis team struck the right chords, make that strings, when they hosted East Stroudsburg South High School last Thursday to open the spring season.

The Zephyrs defeated the Cavaliers 6-0 to get the 2018 campaign off on a strong note. The encounter with the Cavs was supposed to be their third match of the season, but bad weather forced early cancellations.

Thursday wasn’t ideal, either, as gusty winds whipped across the court. However, it didn’t appear to faze the Whitehall players as they swept the season opener.

Jeremy Lim got things rolling in No. 1 singles. Jeremy Lim vanquished Cody Cox in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. The match was punctuated with some spirited volleys, but Lim’s shot-making ability proved to be the difference.

Nick Rohn was locked in a back-and-forth tussle with Dmyto Petrov at No. 2, prevailing in two tiebreakers. Rohn won the first set 7-6, and followed that with a 7-5 win to take the match in straight sets.

Head coach Guillermo Valera said that it took some time before Rohn found his footing in the match. Valera said that early in the match, Rohn was hampered by unforced errors that affected his play. Rohn’s game also features risky shots that can work to his opponent’s favor. However, all that can be mitigated by Rohn’s ability to overpower his opponent once he settles into a match.

“Once he’s in his zone, he’s really good,” said Valera.

At No. 3 singles, Nick Demjan also won in straight sets, defeating Vincent Grados, 6-2, 6-4.

The Zephs continued their strong showing in doubles, with duo Eduard Harrich and Erik Poon defeating Cavalier tandem Crew Bunn and Jordan Berkowitz, 6-1, 6-0.

That continued at No. 2 doubles as Daniel Lim and Josh Mallory had a epic battle against Miguel Rett and Cooper Libby. That match went three sets, with the Zephyr duo outlasting their EPC counterparts, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.

Finally, Gabriel Fonseca-Rodriguez and Stephen Swiezak topped ESS tandem Chris Winslett and Noah Adi, 6-2, 6-4.

The Zephyrs followed that up with a win over Bangor on Saturday, defeating the Slaters 6-0.

The Zephs have now won all eight matches to begin the 2018 season. Jeremy Lim made it two wins at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Ian Absalom.

At No. 2 singles, Rohn defeated Bryan Beltrano, 6-3, 6-4, while Demjan topped Kyle Mabus, 7-5, 6-3.

They kept their dominance rolling through the doubles with Harrich and Poon dismantling Andre Bandswik and Sean Skoles in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Daniel Lim and Josh Mallory won in straight sets at No. 2 doubles, defeating Grant Kaye and Dan Rubel, 6-2, 7-6.

Finally, at No. 3 doubles, Fonseca-Rodriguez and Aidan Gilboy downed Paul Mastrogiovanni and Zach O’Shaughnessy 6-3, 6-4.

Valera said that the begging of the year has been really positive.

“That was a good start, and that’s good to build confidence with the kids,” said Valera. “They were happy they won. They were having fun. It just builds confidence.”

Valera said that he’s still in the learning process, getting to know the players and the league as they enter their second week on competition. If they are no cancellations, the Zephs face Dieruff, Freedom and Pleasant Valley this week.