The Parkland boys tennis team offered solid performances in District 11 doubles play during the first full week of May.

Leading the way was the team of Ankit Lenka and Matthew Liu. The two young men played outstanding tennis during a run that ended with a semifinal loss May 7 to Liberty’s Louis Gruber and David Lynn 6-3, 6-1 at Saucon Valley High School.

“It was quite an accomplishment and I’m very pleased with their performance throughout the tournament,” said Parkland head coach Mike Hingston. “They rose to the occasion.”

The uprising started with a 6-4, 6-0 first round victory over Liberty’s Shayaan Farhad and Gavin Evans-Gartley. Next up came three-set victory over Freedom’s Justin Szaro and Tommy Potts in a 6-4, 6-7 (7-4), 6-0 win. The duo then dominated Northampton’s Andrew Hozza and Cameron Chuss 6-1, 6-2, setting up their semifinal battle.

“Even though the score may not be indicative of it, they played a pretty good match (in the semifinal),” the coach said.

The key to their sterling tournament performance was superb execution and mental toughness. The boys “dictated the terms” of their matches in the first three rounds, said Hingston.

Parkland also received a good serve and volley showing from the duo of Fyodor D’Souza and Conrad Lee. The pair made the lives of East Stroudsburg North’s James Brandes and Dylan DeSalvia miserable in a 6-2, 6-0 win. Their championship dream ended, however, in the second round in a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Liberty’s Jiaming Wong and Anthony Ronca.

“They had a tremendous season and played their best tennis toward the end of the season,” Hingston said.

Parkland’s third entry in the tournament - Andrew Ringold and Ee-ning Ooi - faced tough competition in Easton’s Ethan Gabay and Neal Gilbert. A three-set battle ensued, with the third set registering as an instant classic. Ringold and Ooi took control early, winning the first set 6-3, before Gabay and Gilbert rebounded with a solid 6-1 win in set two. The final set volleyed back and forth, with Gabay and Gilbert escaping with a 10-8 win.

“They were scrambling to win,” said Hingston of Gabay and Gilbert. “I’m proud of Andrew and Ee-ning. They came off the court saying they played their best match of the season even in defeat.”

The Parkland coach said his boys played their best tennis as the season climaxed.

“We want do good at the end when it counts the most,” said Hingston.