Free State High's Stephen Donly returns a volley in his doubles match. FSHS improved to 3-0 on the week with a 5-4 victory Wednesday over Blue Valley at FSHS.

Free State tennis coach Jon Renberger could not have asked for a better week.

On Monday his squad swept rival LHS, 9-0, and Tuesday its went 12-0 in a home quad. To finish off the week, Free State battled fatigue and 80-plus-degree weather and defeated Blue Valley, 5-4, on Wednesday at FSHS.

“It was a tremendous week,” Renberger said. “This team beat us 6-3 last year, and we were able to turn the tables on them a bit this year. That’s progress, and that’s what I want to see.”

Renberger was a little concerned coming into Wednesday’s match that his team might be fatigued due to the week’s first two matches. His concerns were eased when Free State won all three doubles matches to start the day.

“If there was going to be a let-down, today would have been the day,” Renberger said. “I was really proud of the fact that we got off to a good start and got some momentum.”

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo Lawrence Free State High School tennis player Drew Schelar misses the ball on the fly in attempted return. Schelar recovered to return the ball on the bounce and win the point. Schelar and his #3 doubles team partner Stephen Donly defeated their Blue Valley opponents 8-1 Wednesday at FSHS.

After winning four straight to open the match, Free State dropped four of their last five to sneak away with the 5-4 victory.

“We didn’t play well overall today,” Renberger said. “I didn’t think that we showed that we’re very well conditioned because we should have played better in the singles matches than we did. Playing three days in a row is just a weak excuse because these guys are young, and we emphasize conditioning in practice, but I’m glad we picked up the team win.”

Keith Pipkin continued his dominance this spring, winning his singles match, 8-1, before teaming with Charlie Moffet to win their doubles match, 8-3.

Fatigue was not a problem for Pipkin, who walked through most of matches 8-0 on Monday and Tuesday.

“None of the earlier matches strained me too much,” Pipkin said. “Plus, I’m pretty fit because I play year-round. The heat is nothing special for me.”

The doubles teams of Stephen Donly-Drew Schelar and Jack Hull-Patrick Spurgeon won to remain undefeated this season.