Senior Colin Meyer goes wide for a backhand in the McGill-Toolen Invitational on Friday, March 30.

Jesuit’s varsity tennis team divided into two squads to compete in the McGill-Toolen Invitational on March 30 and 31 in Mobile, Alabama.

Jesuit’s A-team (Jojo Sandoz, James Henican, Sid Trouard, Pierce Westbrook, Dexter Webster, Nick Crockens, David Webster, Tom Levy, and Wes Melito) posted a 3-1 record to claim 5th-place in the 48-team field. Jesuit’s B-team (David Nimmo, Colin Meyer, Cole LaCour, Luke Russo, Keating Landry, James Bostick, and William Bostick)  posted a 2-2 record en route to an 11th-place finish.

Jesuit’s A-team opened with a hard fought 7-2 win over Northridge (Tuscaloosa, AL), during which Line 1 singles player Jojo Sandoz was forced to retire after a knee contusion. Playing without Sandoz in the second round, who was held out as a precaution, the Jays weren’t able to get over the hump in a loss to Huntsville (AL), despite Trouard coming out on top in an epic battle on Line 3 singles. On Day 2, with Sandoz cleared to play again, the Jays resumed their winning ways, taking out Farihope (AL) and Niceville (FL).

Jesuit’s B-team lost its opener to Fairhope by a score of 6-3. In Round Two, the B-team played perhaps the most exciting match of the weekend, beating St. Paul’s (Covington) by a score of 5-4. St. Paul’s almost clinched that match in singles play, but gritty third-set tiebreaker wins by James Bostick and Keating Landry gave the Jays a fighting chance. Down 4-2 heading into the three doubles matches, Jesuit needed a sweep and they got it. LaCour and Meyer picked up the win on Line 1 and were followed soon thereafter by James Bostick and Landry on Line 3. All the drama then focused on Line 2, where William Bostick and Russo squeaked out a 9-7 win. On Day Two, the B-team opened with a loss to Northridge before closing out with a win over McGill-Toolen.

Jesuit returns to the courts on Tuesday, April 2 for a showdown against Brother Martin with the district championship on the line. Match time is 4:00 at the UNO Tennis Center.