ARARAT - Mixed sets played a pivotal role towards team victories in the Ararat City Tennis Club's summer pennant matches on Saturday.
A trio of mixed set wins saw AME secure a narrow five sets to four victory over AutoPro.
AutoPro's Justin Pelly was on fire in the men's doubles, winning both his sets and proving too strong for his younger opponent in Oakley Gason.
Mick Collins and Ben Pietsch provided plenty of strength for AME, winning the only men's doubles set for the team.
The trend continued for AME in the ladies' sets, with Donna Borelli and Jacqui Ralph defeating AutoPro's Liz Carter and Kira Payne 9-5.
AutoPro's Jo Panther continues to impress in what is shaping up to be one of her best seasons with the club, running well and hitting with more consistency each week.
After trailing four sets to two, AME turned the tables in the mixed sets, winning all three sets to win the round.
Marx Metal powered home in the mixed sets for a six sets to three victory over BartCo.
After sitting three sets apiece at the conclusion of the men's and ladies' sets, the Marx Metal players combined well in the mixed to win the day.
Josh Matthews continues to find more confidence on the court, with his reach and quick reactions helping him and partner Sam Hoffman win the only men's set for Marx Metal.
BartCo's Jackson Seres was a force on the court, teaming with Jackson Bohner to defeat Sam Hoffman and Rodney Taylor nine games to seven.
Seres' lightning speed and reach for high and wide balls saw him outsmart Hoffman.
A consistent Maryanne Harricks and Nancy Bowen were unable to match Alison Burmester and Alanah Sheard, with Burmester's cross court drives keeping the pair pinned to the base line.
J-Ward continues to challenge its opponents, securing a convincing eight sets to one win over GME.
J-Ward's John Hannett had a stunning day on court, with his mix of drives and tricky slices troubling opponents in the men's and mixed sets.
Stuart Muller and Sam Gason were the only GME pairing to win a set, with Muller's strong serves and high slams always a danger to opponents.
In the ladies' sets, Ann-Maree Driscoll's consistent attacks for J-Ward, teamed with Pam White's consistent returns, saw the duo trouble their opponents and secure a 9-1 win.
The J-Ward team drove it home in the mixed, winning all three sets in a convincing fashion to seal their overall win.
With so many players keen to attend the Dunkeld races on Saturday, round five of the Ararat City Tennis Club's summer pennant will be played on Friday evening at 7pm.
Results
AME 69-5 d AutoPro 58-4
Men: M Collins, O Gason lost to D Bohner, J Pelly 6-9; O Gason, B Pietsch lost to J Pelly, M Gason 8-9; M Collins, B Pietsch d D Bohner, M Gason 9-2.
Ladies: D Borelli, C Harricks lost to L Carter, J Panther 4-9; C Harricks, J Ralph lost to J Panther, K Payne 6-9; D Borelli, J Ralph d L Carter, K Payne 9-5.
Mixed: M Collins, D Borelli d D Bohner, L Carter 9-1; O Gason, C Harricks d J Pelly, J Panther 9-6; B Pietsch, J Ralph d M Gason, K Payne 9-8.
GME 37-1 lost to J-Ward 80-8
Men: S Bohner, S Muller lost to J Hannett, J Hamilton 7-9; S Muller, S Gason d J Hamilton, A Drosg 8-9; S Bohner, S Gason lost to J Hannett, A Drosg 3-9.
Ladies: M Hargreaves, L Waters lost to A Driscoll, P White 1-9; L Waters, J Baird lost to P White, D Fiscalini 3-9; M Hargreaves, J Baird lost to A Driscoll, D Fiscalini 1-9.
Mixed: S Bohner, M Hargreaves lost to J Hannett, A Driscoll 2-9; S Muller, L Waters lost to J Hamilton, P White 5-9; J Baird, S Gason lost to A Drosg, D Fiscalini 6-9.
Marx Metal 72-6 d BartCo
Men: S Hoffman, R Taylor lost to J Seres, J Bohner 7-9; R Taylor, J Matthews lost to J Bohner, J Nyikos 7-9; S Hoffman, J Matthews d J Seres, J Nyikos 9-7.
Ladies: N Bowen, M Harricks lost to A Burmester, A Sheard 4-9; M Harricks, C Ralph d A Sheard, A Hamilton 9-6; N Bowen, C Ralph d A Burmester, A Hamilton.
Mixed: S Hoffman, N Bowen d J Seres, A Burmester 9-7; M Harricks, R Taylor d J Bohner, A Hamilton 9-6; J Matthews, C Harricks d J Nyikos, A Sheard 9-4.
Ladder: AME 12 points; Marx Metal 12; J-Ward 12; AutoPro 4; BartCo 4; GME 4.
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