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Published: Friday, Mar. 08, 2013 / Updated: Friday, Mar. 08, 2013 08:51 PM

Falcons bounce back in tennis, but No, 1 player ailing

FORT MILL -- 

After a rough start at the Florence Tennis tourney, the Nation Ford Falcons have bounced back to .500 after picking up two Region III wins against Lancaster and Rock Hill.

Now at 3-3 on the year, one battle they are hoping to win is off the tennis court. No. 1 singles player, senior Madison Ott, is out for now with a back injury and could be out of the season depending on the outcome of a trip to the doctor.

“That makes the season up in the air,” said head coach Billy McKinney. “That changes the dynamics.”

McKinney said he isn’t sure if Ott is out for the year and is hoping for the best, but if so, the team will have to go on without him.

“Everybody had to step up and assume greater challenges,” he said.

The Falcons didn’t have any trouble this past week in their two matches, beating Lancaster 7-0, and Rock Hill 5-1.

No. 2 singles Stephen Zoeller has moved into the No. 1 role for now and led Nation Ford the past two matches. Against Rock Hill, he won 6-7, 6-2, 10-3.

Other Falcons winning were No. 3 singles Ben Herman 6-0, 6-0; No.4 singles Chris Tapp 6-1, 6-0 and No. 5 singles Raj Dwivedi 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles action, Jonathan Habbick and Banks Reigel won 6-2, 6-2.

Against Lancaster, things were a little close in some of the sets, but Nation Ford came away still with straight set victories. Zoeller won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, while Chase Mahrlig won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. Hermon won 6-1, 6-3 and Tapp won 6-3, 6-2.

At No. 5 singles David Habbick won 6-1, 6-2 and Habbick also teamed with Tapp in the No. 1 doubles pairing to win 8-3.

In No. 2 doubles, Jonathan Habbick and Dwivedi won 6-2, 6-0.

Nation Ford will travel to South Pointe and host Northwestern this week in more region action.