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June 10, 2021
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Goochland wins regional singles, doubles titles Webb, Bernstine win Region 3B doubles championship By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor
Breaking through for their first state tournament appearance on the doubles court together, senior Adam Webb and sophomore Evan Bernstine powered through three matches and played in two different counties in one day to win their first Class 3, Region B boys tennis doubles championship. “It really meant a lot, because I was looking forward to playing with Evan last year,” Webb said. “I think we could’ve held our own last year, but definitely, since this is my senior year, it was good to get that final year in, and especially with a title.” This year marked the first time that Bernstine and Webb got to play a full varsity tennis season together after COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 campaign. This year also marked Bernstine’s first time winning the regional title in singles. “There’s no doubt that Evan’s probably one of the best kids in the state, especially in (Class 3), and getting to play with him is really
fun, and it’s an honor,” Webb said. “When controlling the court, he does a really good job, and I have to hold my own at certain points, but he’s really talented, does a lot to help us win, so it’s really fun playing with him.” Bernstine and Webb’s strengths throughout Friday’s regional tournament were on full display in their championship match against brothers Abhinav and Bhuvan Maddi from Lightridge. Webb’s groundstrokes stayed low, steady and consistent, keeping rallies alive and forcing mistakes. Bernstine’s powerful returns from the baseline also led to his opponents hitting the ball away, and he racked up several points on his fiery first serve. Both players in the match also won points on hard-hitting overhead volleys and hustled to cover big shots from their opponents, including overheads. “Evan’s a lot stronger than I am by far, so anytime he can hit the ball, we want him to,” Webb said while adding: “I can definitely hold my own, and I think that had a big play on helping us win, because if I
can’t get the ball back to him when returning, then he has no chance to finish the point. I think it’s a combination of me being able to hang in there with the stronger guys and the matter of him being so talented to finish the points to help give us the win.” Communication throughout the day was also key, as, during many points, Bernstine would communicate whether he had the ball, or if it was Webb’s shot to take. “The more we play with each other, the better that communication gets,” Webb added. “It’s only going to get better from here.” In the championship match, Webb and Bernstine led the first set 5-1, but the Maddi brothers won back-to-back games and served for a third, attempting to tighten the Goochland duo’s lead to 5-4. Abhinav and Bhuvan even reached advantage point, but they ultimately hit the ball into the net off of Bernstine’s drop shot on that point, resetting the game at deuce. Goochland gained the advan-
see Doubles > page 10
Bernstine sweeps opponents for regional singles championship By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor
GOOCHLAND -- Last year, Evan Bernstine missed out on what would have been his first season on the varsity tennis courts due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But across this past year, his commitment to the game - and to improving his play - remained a daily one. Day after day, the sophomore and younger brother of state champions and current Virginia Tech players Chase and Ryan Bernstine worked with the ball machine, focused on getting in reps, hit the ball with his brothers when they were home for the summer and played with his dad, Mark Bernstine.
Evan spoke to “really enjoying the process of getting better as a player and a person.” That enjoyment, commitment and hard work - combined with his experience from having played since he was 6 years old - led to Evan picking up his first varsity title to date. In his first full high school season, the sophomore swept both of his regional tournament opponents on Tuesday to win the Class 3, Region B boys tennis singles championship. Bernstine never lost a game in Tuesday’s tournament. He won 6-0, 6-0 over both Independence’s Srey Sola in the semifinal round and Lightridge’s Abhinav Maddi in the championship match. The regional final marked the only time in the tournament that
Bernstine’s opponent reached a score of 40 in a given game. In that particular instance, the fifth game of the second set, Bernstine - through a combination of Maddi landing a strong shot that Bernstine hit out, a double-fault and a return into the net, Bernstine for the only time in the day fell behind 40-0. And then he won four straight points to get back the advantage. His second point in the game saw Bernstine and Maddi trade strong groundstrokes in a long rally, through which Bernstine persevered. After a return shot into the net led to the second of only two deuce points that Bernstine played all tour-
see Singles > page 10
Photos by Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette
Adam Webb (above) and Evan Bernstine, seen warming up for their first regional tournament doubles match at Goochland High School on Friday, won their first Class 3, Region B boys tennis doubles championship. Three days before the doubles tournament, Bernstine swept his opponents in 24 straight games to win his first Class 3, Region B boys tennis singles championship.
