After falling in the Moore League boys singles championship in his first two years at Millikan it was finally Nolan Alvarez’s turn. The senior made his fourth trip to the championship game on Tuesday at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, defeating Douglas Smith to win his second straight championship, 6-4, 6-1.
Alvarez fell to his former teammate and current UCI tennis player Andy Nguyen in his first two championship appearances, and had worked at his game tirelessly since his sophomore season en route to becoming this year’s repeat champion.
“It’s all consistency for me, being able to play at this level every single time I come out here every year,” said Alvarez. “Obviously we had my old teammate Andy, I lost to him in the finals the first two years (of my high school career) but this year and last year there hasn’t been anyone else at his or my level. I think my game has definitely improved since my sophomore year so I’m happy I’ve been able to get the dub the last two years.”
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“It’s something that you can never predict,” said Millikan coach Devin Bowler. “He did exactly what he set out to do. He played solid tennis and you couldn’t ask for more from him.”
Alongside Alvarez on the podium stood Wilson runner up Duglas Smith in second, alongside his teammate and former runner up Leo Bauch in third. Bauch defeated Markus Mataiuda in the Moore League third place match.
In a new format to previous years, the Moore League doubles championship took place just moments after the singles finals. After not playing doubles since his freshman year, Alvarez geared up for a doubles championship alongside teammate Eric Carranza, as the pair faced familiar faces against Wilson’s Smith and Bauch.
The Bruin duo looked sharp through the beginning of the match, as both teams traded blows before Smith and Bauch eventually took the first set 6-4. Millikan rallied back in the second with a 6-4 set of their own, sending the match to a final set to ten points.
“I told (Nolan and Eric) to just keep swinging, keep moving your feet, and keep being aggressive,” said Bowler. “Doubles is all about being aggressive and taking your opportunities. I told them to keep doing what you guys know you can do.”
The Millikan pair came out in the third set electric, stealing a quick 5-1 lead. Alvarez and Carranza were able to hold on in the third, coming back to win the Moore League doubles championship 4-6, 6-4, 10-5.
“I think the momentum just switched,” said Alvarez. “We were down big in the first set and we ended up broken there. The second set we had the same mindset, just tried to keep the momentum on our side and it worked. We just kept that momentum into the third set and got that pretty convincing in the third.”
“I think energy and less lose points in terms of bad decisions and stupid errors,” added Bowler. “I think the biggest thing was to stay within ourselves and clean up some of those movements. Energy also for sure, it did almost get away from us but they just stayed and hunkered down strong.”
Despite their losses the Bruins will stay in the good hands of Douglas Smith and Leo Bauch who will return for their senior seasons next year. Bowler gave his flowers to the Wilson pair after the matches.
“It’s been stiff competition from them and Wilson all year. The competition especially with Douglas has definitely been high. The last time we played them in league he barely lost to Nolan in a tiebreaker, and I think Doug is a strong competitor and will be even stronger when he comes back next year. I think just because this was his first time on the championship court he’ll probably come back next year with confidence and probably take first.”
Be sure to check back on the562.org for updates on the release of CIF-SS tennis brackets Monday morning.
