NEDERLAND — The regional rounds in team tennis are not exactly uncharted territory for Nederland, but it’s been a while since the Bulldogs got there.

“We’ve been losing the second round the last six years,” 28th-year coach Jorge Lopez said Monday. “Before that, there was a different format. You went straight to regionals with 16 teams. They don’t do that anymore. So, now it’s harder to get to the regional tournament.”

In an era of four teams per district in a UIL playoff — two per district went in 1993 — getting to regionals is a difficult thing. Nederland, the 24-time district team champion, not only has won the bi-district and area rounds, but a win in Tuesday’s 5A Region III quarterfinal against Kingwood Park at Goose Creek Memorial will help the Bulldogs equal their furthest playoff round ever, according to Lopez. They were regional semifinalists in 1993.

Kingwood Park boasts tradition of its own, but Lopez likes Nederland’s chances to advance and take on either A&M Consolidated or Ennis.

“We have a good chance of beating them,” Lopez said. “KP always gets to the regional tournament. If they lose to us, it’ll be the first time they haven’t been [in the regional semis] in six years.”

Nederland’s strong play in doubles has keyed victories over Dayton and Fort Bend Elkins in the first two playoff matches, Lopez said. The Bulldogs won six of seven doubles matches against Elkins, needing three sets each to win the top two boys battles with No. 1 Alex Luketich and Tommy Hoang and No. 2 Dwight Lewis and Zach Buff.

“I think we need to play within what we can and play smart,” Lopez said. “Doubles is what we’ve done so good. It’s because they follow the basics. They get their serve in, they return some plays, the first volley, and if you do that, you can beat players better than you.”

Better players have also lifted up teammates on Lopez’s squad. Such is the case with Jayci Wong, a two-time 22-5A singles champion who’s been working with No. 6 singles player Grace Rigby.

Naturally, Wong is the Bulldogs’ No. 1 singles player.

“I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been playing with her,” Rigby said. “Playing with someone better than you makes you better.”

With a history of domination on the district level, the Bulldogs are trying to add to their brand more playoff success. They’re counting on a winning tradition to navigate through a tough field in Region III.

“We’ve been here and we’ve got to hold up our tradition,” Lewis said. “It gives us something to fight for, something to uphold to ourselves as a moral thing. We’re going to carry on a tradition that our past seniors have taught us and just carry us throughout the years.”
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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews