The Emmaus boys tennis team comes into the 2022 season off a solid 11-3 regular season of serving and volleying last year and head coach Fred Saab, who is in his second season at the helm, wants a similar storyline this spring.

The postseason, however, was like taking a pin to a balloon. Emmaus staggered through league and district competition and made early exits.

Saab has displayed a penchant for teaching the finer parts of the sport, such as volleying and poaching at the net. His teams are well prepared for their asphalt battles.

“Most boys will practice rallying from the baseline, but the team that can rally and put the ball away will has the upper hand in the match,” Saab said.

To have the upper hand this year Saab will need a strong performance from junior Eddy Chow who in 2021 was superlative, losing only one regular season match. Saab has enlisted Chow this year to serve as the Hornets’ number one player.

“He crafts points to his advantage and has an all-around strong game,” Saab said.

Nick Stone, a freshman, has started the season in the No. 2 singles slot, with senior Nic Gilboy at No. 3.

“Nic Gilboy has an all-around good game with powerful ground strokes,” Saab said.

Last year the doubles pairings provided a solid foundation for the Emmaus cause. This year Saab has emerging talent and some depth. It will feature Rohan Desai and Gabe Huff composing the No. 2 squad. Ben Fletcher and Ryan Baig are partners in the No. 3 doubles team, while Zach Moser and Quinn Durkin are teammates in No. 4. Ayden Kegley and Caleb Brashear will pair up also.

The green and gold registered the season’s first victory last Tuesday with 5-2 win over Blue Mountain. In this one, Chow, Stone and Gilboy all claimed victories. It was a different outcome when next afternoon Emmaus was shutout by Liberty, 0-6.