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04/24/2017 12:00 AMValley Regional boys’ tennis Head Coach Bunny Logan has had to mix and match her players due to a lack of depth this season, but overall, everything is working out quite well for the Warriors in the early going. Three weeks into the season, Valley owns a record of 5-1 and is halfway home to qualifying for the State Championship for the 13th straight year in Logan’s 13th season at the helm.
In last week’s action, the Warriors split their two contests at home. On April 17, they took a 4-3 loss to Morgan after surrendering two matches via forfeit. Two days later, Valley was back on the court to face another Shoreline Conference foe in Coginchaug and posted a 7-0 victory with everyone winning comfortably. With her team having won five of six to start the spring, Coach Logan feels the Warriors are doing just fine, all things considered.
“I had to pick up a lot of new kids because we didn’t have enough to begin with,” said Logan. “So I think we’re doing as well or even a little bit better than expected. “
Last year, the Warriors went 9-9 and qualified for the Class S State Championship. Several players who helped Valley reach the postseason are back this spring, including the team’s Most Valuable Player, junior Jeff Riggio. Last season, Rggio finished with 10 victories and was named to the All-Shoreline Conference Second Team for the second consecutive year. Riggio owns a record of 3-1 in 2017 after netting victories against his competitors from Old Lyme (6-4, 6-3), Morgan (6-0, 6-2), and Coginchaug (6-2, 6-4). Riggio is once again playing the No. 1 singles position for Coach Logan’s club.
“He’s a polished player with a lot of lessons under his belt,” Logan said. “There’s no shortcut in learning how to play tennis really well. It just takes years. Some kids are more athletic than others and pick it up quickly, but you have to put in the time. Jeff has put in the time. He’ll be even better as a senior. I think he’ll be the kid to beat next year.”
When Riggio missed a couple of matches this season, Ben Kilby, last year’s Most Improved Player, stepped up from the No. 2 spot to No. 1 and notched a couple of big wins. The senior captain is undefeated at 6-0 with victories against Haddam-Killingworth (2-6, 6-1, 6-1), Old Lyme (6-4, 7-5), Cromwell (6-3, 6-3), Portland (6-1, 5-7, 6-4), Morgan (6-1, 6-1), and Coginchaug (6-0, 6-1). Kilby brings a hard-nosed style of play to the court for the Warriors.
“He’s impressive. He’s one of the most tenacious players I’ve ever seen and, after 34 years of coaching, I’ve seen a lot of them,” said Coach Logan, who coached at Branford and North Branford before coming to Valley. “He never gives up a point, and he won’t take a loss for an answer. He’s a fighter.”
Valley’s other senior captain, Hal Jones, is back in the No. 3 singles slot this season. Thus far, Jones owns a record of 2-2 with wins against Haddam-Killingworth (6-3, 6-1) and Coginchaug (6-0, 6-0).
On the doubles side, Valley’s No. 1 position is mainly manned by seniors Buddy Haydu and Jack Liggett, who are 2-0 with victories versus Old Lyme (6-3, 6-2) and Coginchaug (6-1, 6-3). This marks Haydu’s first year with the Valley Regional boys’ tennis program, and Logan already sees the goalie’s footwork skills from soccer paying off on the court. Moreover, Liggett’s and Haydu’s friendship is paying dividends as they team up for the first time.
“They are good friends and they play well together,” said Coach Logan. “When it’s just two people, and they’re putting their heads together, it helps a lot when they get along.”
Even though the Warriors have started their season strong, Coach Logan knows that they have some big-time tests to come on the schedule.
“We haven’t played the really tough schools like Westbrook, who’s still undefeated on the season, and Old Saybrook, who is also very solid,” said Coach Logan, whose Warriors will match up against both those teams in the next two weeks.
As always, Coach Logan is preparing her athletes for the mental component for their tennis matches. With so many years of coaching experience, Logan knows that any given match can either finish quickly or be a grind in which both players methodically pick apart their opponent’s game.
“It’s a head game. It’s 1-on-1, and there’s no team to blame if things go poorly,” she said. “Some kids thrive on that and play better, but other kids can get nervous and tentative when they face competition.”
Ultimately, Coach Logan stresses to her athletes that they can always improve and wants them to take advantage of the time they have to work on their game.
“You’re never as good as you can possibly get. You can always get better,” said Logan. “Tennis is a lifetime sport. You could go to a racquet club and they’ll teach them how to play for 89 dollars an hour. In high school, you get to learn that for free.”