Junior Christian Lacoste serves one up against Strake Jesuit (Houston) on Friday, Feb. 10 at Independence Park in Baton Rouge (photo courtesy John Sandoz).

Jesuit dropped a closer-than-the-score-indicated dual meet against Strake Jesuit (Houston) on Friday, Feb. 10 at Independence Park in Baton Rouge.

The Jays lost all eight singles matches, before rebounding to take three of four doubles matches.

The match marked the return to competitive play of senior Trey Hamlin, who had been rehabilitating a back injury for several weeks. Hamlin, playing only doubles, teamed with senior Jack Steib to notch a win at Line 1.

“Trey looked really good,” said Coach Travis Smith. “It was great to see him out there again competing for the blue and white. He and Jack (Steib) are a force to be reckoned with in doubles play.”

The Jays pose with their opponents after the match (photo courtesy John Sandoz).

Also picking up doubles wins were seniors Leo Seoane and Andrew Ryan (Line 3) and the junior/sophomore duo of Christian Lacoste and Dex Webster (Line 4).

While the 9-3 overall score looks a bit lopsided, all of the singles matches were competitive. Steib and sophomore Jojo Sandoz played some of the most entertaining tennis of the night at Lines 1 & 2 singles, but came up on the short end of the scoreboard. Ryan, Webster, and Lacoste, meanwhile, all pushed their opponents to third-set tiebreakers.

Jesuit is tentatively scheduled to open its local season on Tuesday, Feb. 14 against St. Augustine at the UNO courts.