BY VIN RAPOLLA
Staff Writer

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Red Bank Catholic’s David Rodriguez returns a shot during a recent match at Brookdale Community College. The Rumson-Fair Haven tennis team is no stranger to the Shore Conference Tournament’s semifinal round, having been there the last three years.

However, the Bulldogs were not expected to be there again this year, coming in as the sixth seed in what was widely regarded as a wide-open tournament, behind top-seeded Marlboro, the heavy favorite.

But Rumson has persevered, knocking off third-seed Ocean Township in last week’s quarterfinal round to advance to the semis, where they were scheduled to face Toms River East, an upset winner over second-seeded Manalapan, in another quarterfinal match-up.

Rumson got wins from second and third singles, as well as second doubles, to upset the Spartans, 3-2, last Thursday.

While Ocean’s Spencer Friedman beat Rumson’s Sean Pahler, 6-3, 6-2, at first singles, while the duo of Andrew Katz and Ross Gill were victorious at second singles, 6-4, 6-2.

But Rumson got a huge win from senior Kyle Abbot at third singles, where he bounced back from losing the first set, 6-4, to Dan Kastalsky to win the next two, 6-3, 7-5.

RFH junior Chris Rodilosso did his part at second singles, winning 6-2, 6-3, before the doubles duo of Dave Seide and Nick Kelly clinched it with a 6-4, 6-1 win.

The winner of Tuesday’s semifinal got the winner of the Marlboro-Holmdel semi in the championship.

Over the weekend, the Kelly-Seide combination added a Monmouth County Flights Tournament title to their resumes, winning the second doubles portion of the event.

The Rumson duo didn’t lose a set all day, cruising into the finals, where they beat Marlboro’s Ariel Reutenberg and Seth Berkowitz, 6-4, 7-6, to earn the title.

The Bulldogs tandem were the only local players to earn championships on Saturday, though a few other singles players enjoyed success.

Shore Regional junior Ricky Braha advanced to the finals of the second singles bracket before eventually falling to Manalapan’s Casey Jedlinski, 6-2, 6-0. Braha upset Holmdel’s Jeff Yang in the quarterfinals, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, before knocking off Rumson’s Rodilosso, 6-2, 6-3 in the semis.

At third singles, Red Bank Regional’s Sean Koch advanced to the finals, where he fell to Marlboro’s Ilan Gamberg, 6-3, 7-5. Koch also played well throughout the day, knocking off St. Rose’s Andrew Dwulet, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5, in a grueling semifinal match to reach the final.

Notes ... While their 2-14 record doesn’t necessarily show it, the Red Bank Catholic boys tennis team has enjoyed a solid year.

“We ended with a two-game winning streak, beating Matawan and Long Branch,” head coach Bob Winchester said. “That’s the first time we beat Matawan in the four years I’ve been here, and the first two-game winning streak in three years.”

Facing a tough schedule that includes the likes of Holmdel, Rumson-Fair Haven and Manasquan, the Caseys held their own this year, led by four seniors — second singles player Rich Grey, third singles player Dave Rodriguez, the doubles tandem of Tony Schmelz and Ryan Aulson, and Nick Lamba, who shared time at second singles with a underclassmen Matt Hayes and John Schmelz.

Freshman Josh Spore and senior Brian Cavalier also saw some court time this year, and played well, according to Winchester.

“They’re a bunch of strong, motivated kids who worked very hard,” the coach said. “They were a great group of guys to coach.”