Wednesday weather patterns featured cool and sunny conditions with strong breezes, but Ben Blackner brought the heat in a sizzling three-set, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, No. 2 singles win against Todd Beamer's Ryan Wolfe to earn his Federal way boys tennis team a 3-2 home verdict.

Action was punctuated by strategic cat and mouse baseline battles with slices, spins and tinges of net play. Holding serve often proved to be problematical as the competitors split the first two sets.

Blackner blasted out to a 3-0 third set lead before Wolfe broke serve and closed within 3-2. The foes exchanged service breaks and holds of serve until the Eagle athlete held a 5-4 lead with Wolfe on serve. Wolfe survived several break points, but Blackner finally broke serve for the game, set and match.

"He (Wolfe) played a great match," attested Blackner. "I was able to win some crucial points. He surprised me by attacking the net so I kept being aggressive. My goal was to keep the rallies going."

Sophomore Joseph Delacruz quickly swept Beamer into an advantage with a 6-0, 6-3, defeat of the Eagles' Chase McLaughlin in No.1 singles to begin the day's proceedings.

"I stayed aggressive and mixed it up," said Delacruz, who looks to improve upon his sixth place at state last spring. "Some of my shots were not as good as usual, but my forehand stayed strong."

In No. 2 doubles play, Federal way's Bradley Lewis and Matt Havili prevailed over the Titan twosome of Nick Cooke and Jae Lee, 6-1, 6-2.

"We really stayed patient and tried not to beat ourselves," stated Lewis. "It was all about consistency."

Chase Friedrich and Sean O'Bryan put the Titans back on top with a 6-4, 6-4, triumph against the Eagle tandem of Max Ward and Dalton Alvey for the No. 1 doubles decision.
 
"We played aggressively," recalled Friedrich. "We got big leads then made some minor mistakes."

Federal Way flew forward on the wings of a 6-1, 7-6 (12-10) No. 3 doubles match victory by Alex Lewis and Colby Lane versus Danny Kim and Jesse Hong to set the stage for the final match that turned the final tide of triumph toward the Eagles.

"Blackner did a great job," observed Federal Way head coach Jerome Collins. "Our No. 2 and No.3 doubles also just kept battling."

Beamer head coach Brent Brilhante was also positive about his squad.

"Ryan's had a great year," he said. "Our wins have usually come from the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. Our No. 2 singles has been solid."