Boys tennis: Logan DeHaven wins epic three-set battle at first singles to lift Avon past Jackson and into the district final

AVON — In its biggest match on the biggest stage, Avon delivered in a big way. With the team score tied at 2 and every other match finished before the first set of the first singles match ended, Avon's Logan DeHaven and Jackson's Alvin Altman — arguably the top two players in the Northeast district — engaged in a four-hour slugfest with a spot in the Elite Eight of the Ohio Tennis Coach's Association state team tournament on the line. Last year, Altman handed DeHaven his first loss of the season and Jackson eliminated Avon. This time, the Avon senior delivered big forehand after big forehand to hold off Altman for a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 victory and send the Eagles to the district championship. The Eagles also got singles wins from A.J. Sidoti and Luke LeMaster, each doing so in 13 games. "To have the whole team keep on going and advancing just keeps everyone's season alive," said DeHaven, who had the support of seemingly the entire western Cuyahoga County tennis scene with members from many fellow schools — including Avon Lake and Westlake — in attendance. "I'm all about that. I love seeing all the guys out here every day. The crowd was huge. When you're tired and questioning things in your head, you depend on the crowd a lot. It makes all the difference and reinforces your energy to keep on going." Avon (13-2) will face Solon for a spot in the state semifinals at a date to be determined. The Comets — who defeated Brecksville 5-0 on Monday — will host. Jackson finishes at 16-7. Altman and DeHaven could have a rematch in the Division I district championship Saturday. "This is the furthest Avon has ever been and the furthest I have ever been as a coach," Avon coach Eric Korey said. "It's great to be out here, facing the same opponent. For Logan to pull it out here like this is hard to put into words. I'm so proud of him, I'm proud of all of the guys and the whole community for supporting. You don't see this kind of scene for a high school tennis match." While DeHaven won the first set in a 7-4 tiebreak, he had to hold Altman off a couple of times. First, a 22-point hold to keep things on serve at 3-3. Then a 12-point hold in which DeHaven saved three set points. Altman took a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker, but DeHaven responded with six straight points — including a pair of big forehands and a big first serve that clinched the set. "I was just making balls and making him beat me, which he did," Altman said. "I had multiple chances, multiple break points, I just couldn't convert. I'll learn from that, take advantage, hit the ball and just don't be timid. I did everything I could, now I'm going to go home and sleep until districts." Altman, however, did not back down, opening the second set with two breaks to go up 3-0. DeHaven broke back and was able to cut the deficit to 4-2. He held off six Altman break attempts before the Jackson senior clinched a 24-point game on his seventh try, then served out the second set. DeHaven immediately faced break point on the opening game, but responded with back-to-back forehands and an unreturned serve to hold him off. He then won three straight points on Altman's serve to take a 2-0 lead. Altman had two more break chances in the second game, but an unforced error and a backhand winner got DeHaven out of trouble en route to the hold. He took advantage of four Altman double faults to take a 4-0 lead. Craziness ensued after the game as DeHaven needed to take a medical time out, fighting back cramps, and darkness caused the match to move to a better lit court. Altman got a break back, but DeHaven came up with his easiest hold of the night at the right time, then clinched the match with a break. "At first I was playing his game, but then I started playing mine," DeHaven said. "I just hit big balls, big forehands, big backhands, slices and volleys. That's my formula for success. I just stuck with that, kept my energy up and got the win for the team." Contact Chris Sweeney at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com and follow him @CSweeney1686 on Twitter. Avon 3, Jackson 2 FIRST SINGLES: Logan DeHaven (A) def. Alvin Altman, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 SECOND SINGLES: A.J. Sidoti (A) def. Michael Mitri, 6-0, 6-1 THIRD SINGLES: Luke LeMaster (A) def. Lucas Vassas, 6-1, 6-0 FIRST DOUBLES: Rohan Sriram-Shiv Nagajothi (J) def. Franco Gallo-Sivan Manickam, 6-0, 6-0 SECOND DOUBLES: Larson Sutula-Ishan Tripathy (J) def. Jay Kneiss-Aneesh Yerramsetti, 6-2, 6-1