The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Smashing Success: Willow Glen star Nick Kan returns for his senior season.

Tursic tops WG lineup

All-leaguers back on tennis courts

By Dick Sparrer

Enis Tursic didn't play much tennis for Willow Glen last season.

Tursic couldn't compete for a place on the Willow Glen tennis ladder because he spent most of the year recovering from an ankle injury.

"Enis broke his ankle last year and played only a few matches," said Willow Glen coach Don Dushane. But the senior will no doubt make up for lost time this spring--because he's currently in the No. 1 singles spot for the Rams.

Tursic tops a Willow Glen lineup that's loaded with returning all-leaguers this season.

Seniors Nick Kan and Meehan Lunt and juniors Jon Hunter and Vince Butera are all back on the court after winning all-league spots for a Willow Glen team that won a division championship a year ago.

The Rams rolled to a 12-0 record and the championship in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League last spring. The championship pushes Willow Glen into the Santa Teresa Division for the 1998 campaign.

Kan was on the No. 1 doubles team that went 12-0 in league play a year ago. He won an all-league spot for the Rams and will move into the No. 2 singles post this year.

Lunt is back in the No. 3 singles spot and Hunter returns to the No. 4 singles position--the same places they held last year when they won all-league honors for the championship Willow Glen squad.

Butera and junior Rich Hiraga return after playing No. 2 doubles for the Rams a year ago. Hiraga will play No. 5 singles, and Butera will team with senior Anthony Dean at No. 1 doubles. Dean, like Tursic, missed last season with a broken ankle.

Juniors Nick Perez, Will Burns and Ryan Herauf are battling for work at No. 2 doubles for the Rams.

"We also have 14 freshmen out this year," said Dushane. "That's the most freshmen we've ever had, but they have zero experience."

Despite the move up a division, Dushane is expecting his Rams to have a solid showing this spring. He rates Del Mar, Mt. Pleasant and Yerba Buena as the top title contenders in the division, but figures his Rams for a top three finish.

Willow Glen opened the league season with a solid 4-3 win over Yerba Buena. Hunter won a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) thriller at No. 3 singles, and Lunt won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4. Butera and Dean teamed for a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 1 doubles, and Tursic won by forfeit at No. 1 singles.

The Rams, now 5-2 for the year, edged Cupertino and Silver Creek by matching 4-3 scores and whipped Gunderson 6-1 a week earlier.

Tursic went three sets to claim a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles against the Pioneers. Hunter won 7-5, 6-3 at No. 4, Butera won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5, and Butera and Dean won 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles.

Tursic came back with a 6-4, 7-6 victory at No. 1 in the 4-3 win over the Raiders. Lunt chipped in with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles and Hunter won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4. Butera and Dean came through with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles.

Willow Glen dominated Gunderson later in the week, losing only at No. 1 singles.

Kan won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2, Hunter 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3, Hiraga 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4 and Perez 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5. Burns and Dean teamed for a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 1 doubles.

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