Spring Valley No. 2 Brent Lett Spring Valley boys' tennis coach Matt Herms challenged his team after a tight second round match with Dorman last week, and his words were apparently taken to heart. The undefeated Vikings (18- 0) made quick work of Boiling Springs in a quarterfinal match at Spring Valley Tuesday, March 12.

"I just asked them to play how they should," said Herms.

They did.

The matches began around 4:55, an hour later they were all over.

Spring Valley number one singles player Ashkon Babaee started his match with a service ace and concluded it with a service winner easily defeating Chase Lyles 6- 2, 6- 1.

In the only match that was slightly tight, after winning the opening set 6- 1 Spring Valley number two Brent Lett fell behind 4- 3 in the second set in his match against Corey White. Lett won the next two games to take a 5- 4 lead, but White tied the match at 5- 5. Lett then won the final two games at the net, first with a lob over White, then and overhead slam to put the match away 6- 1, 7- 5.

Spring Valley No. 4 Hampton Drake Tempers flared a bit for Boiling Springs' number three and four players, Stephen Higginbotham and Logan Kimbrell. Higginbotham questioned the score a couple of times in his match with Kenan Sakarcan, and Kimbrell screamed for a line judge at one point during his match with Hampton Drake. In the end, neither had much of an effect on the match because Sakarcan dispensed of Higginbotham 6- 3, 6- 1 and Drake beat Kimbrell 6- 4, 6- 0.

Spring Valley number five Connor Burke barely broke a sweat in a 6- 0, 6- 0 match with Benny Uy. The lefty finished in 30 minutes.

The Spring Valley number two doubles team of Joe Cunningham and Trey Finch won against Tristan Lawson and Johnny Uy 6- 3, 6- 1.

The number one doubles match was not necessary for the outcome of the quarterfinal, and therefore, not played.

Following the match with Boiling Springs, Babaee dumped his tennis shoes and racket for a pair of cleats and shin guards. He headed over to the Spring Valley soccer fields to help the Viking soccer team in a first round playoff matchup with Nation Ford.

Spring Valley No. 2 Doubles Joe Cunningham Babaee will put his tennis shoes back on when the Vikings host Greenwood in the Upper State championship May 15 for a chance to play in the state finals May 16. Lexington and Irmo will play for the Lower State title.

Spring Valley No. 2 Doubles Trey Finch Spring Valley No. 1 Ashkon Babaee Spring Valley No. 3 Kenan Sakarcan Spring Valley No. 5 Connor Burke