Sam Rice follows through for Warsaw Monday in NLC action at Concord. Rice rallied for a three-set win at No. 1 singles to help the Tigers clip Concord 4-1.

DUNLAP – Warsaw boys tennis coach Rick Orban wanted to see his team gain a little momentum Monday.

Mission accomplished.

The Tigers put the wraps on the regular season with a 4-1 win over host Concord in the Northern Lakes Conference finale.

Warsaw, which will host the first two days of the league tournament starting on Wednesday, tuned up for the event in fine fashion.

“We accomplished what we truly wanted to today,” said Orban. “We talked coming here today about wanting to have a dominant win, 4-1 or 5-0, and we got that.

“Hopefully, we got some momentum and confidence from this to take into the NLC Tournament. Hopefully, we have a good practice Tuesday and come out ready to go on Wednesday at home.”

The Tigers, who improved to 7-6 overall and finish 5-2 in the NLC, got five very different wins Monday.

The No. 1 doubles team of junior Christopher Herendeen and senior Cole Baker rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win over senior Aaron Allen and sophomore Nathan Hermon.

“They have improved every match that they have played together,” said Orban of his top doubles team. “We worked on some things at practice on Friday and they came out here and did everything we worked on. Tonight is the best they have played and I’m pleased with them.”

The Tigers second point came as smart and steady Nic Jansen, another one of the four seniors in the Warsaw lineup, beat junior Riley Huffer 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.

“Nic is just so solid for us,” Orban remarked. “He’s just extremely smart on the court.”

The clinching point for the experienced Tigers over the young Concord squad came from Caleb Ray. The senior rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the opening set to top junior Mitch Boyer 7-5, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.

“I feel good about what Caleb did tonight,” noted Orban. “He’s a great athlete and it just boiled down to him getting to everything. It was fun to watch.”

Warsaw made it 4-0 as Sam Rice recovered from a first set loss to roll. The senior overpowered freshman Will Boyer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“You saw the way Sam can play in those final two sets,” said Orban. “We had a long talk after that first set. When he stays within himself, he is great. Sam has the talent and I was real pleased with him the last two sets.”

Concord avoided the shutout as junior Braden Fish and senior Spenser Jaenichen outlasted sophomores Justin Stout and David Homme 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 at No. 2 doubles action.

The Minutemen drop to 5-10 overall and finish at 3-4 in the NLC.

Warsaw won the junior varsity action by an 8-2 count. Winning in singles play for the Tigers were Ryan Wettschurack, Colton Lind, Nick Marsh and Kyler Bartol. Taking doubles matches for Warsaw were the teams of Andrew Gauger and Hudson Snyder, Hayden Steger and Keeton Bartol, Graham Ousley and Evan Ousley and Bryce Pequignot and Diego Miguel.

The Tigers and Minutemen will be in action in the NLC Tournament Wednesday and Thursday at Warsaw. The final day is set for Saturday at Northridge.

David Homme reaches for a shot for the Tigers at No. 2 doubles play Monday.