D-C duo makes it work

Dundee-Crown's Alejandro Gonzalez returns a serve Thursday during a doubles match with Woodstock North in Woodstock. (Sarah Nader - snader@nwherald.com)

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WOODSTOCK – Dundee-Crown’s Joe Aschacher and Alex Gonzalez made the move from singles to doubles this season and so far are happy with their partnership.

Aschacher and Gonzalez defeated Woodstock North’s Luke Versten and Peter Jackson, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles on Thursday to lead the Chargers to a 6-1 Fox Valley Conference win.

Aschacher and Gonzalez played mostly singles last year, Gonzalez at No. 2 and Aschacher at No. 3, but did team up in doubles in some matches. That experience, although limited, made the transition to doubles this year easier.

“We definitely know each other’s weaknesses and strengths,” Aschacher said. “Experience is huge.”

The pair played indoors together during the winter and are frequent practice partners in the offseason. Gonzalez said the switch to doubles wasn’t as tough with a partner that he knew.

“There’s a good chemistry. In doubles you’ve got to rely on your partner a lot,” Gonzalez said. “It’s easy to do. Joe’s a good player.”

Chargers’ coach Harlan Miller said Aschacher and Gonzalez still were learning the doubles game but were making good progress.

Miller said he still might play them in some singles matches not only to improve their games but also for some strategic matchups.

“They’re still singles players that are getting accustomed to playing doubles,” Miller said of Aschacher and Gonzalez. “It’s nice that I have a little bit more versatility this year.”

Nick Demetriou at No. 2 and Brad Spangenberg (No. 3) won in singles for the Chargers (3-4 overall, 1-0 FVC). In doubles, Tim Hegel and Eric Martin (No. 2), Josh Naber and Josh Skiba (No. 3) and Willy Ugalde and Sahir Irfan (No. 4) all won for D-C.

Woodstock North’s Genyl Rufino defeated Kevin Brandstatter, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 1 singles for the Thunder’s only win.

Rufino hopes to be able to better compete against the tougher conference opponents this year. In order to do that, he said, he needs to be more patient and not go for winners too early in points.

“I definitely need to work on my consistency,” Rufino said. “I think my fitness has improved that I can rally with them.”

With a number of new players, the Thunder (0-2, 0-2 FVC) have been stressing fundamentals. Woodstock North coach Mike Buehler said that although that emphasis was starting to pay some dividends, his squad still needed the experience of playing in matches to know how to utilize their new skills.

“They’re not playing within their limits,” Buehler said. “You want to be aggressive, but you want it under control. That’s learned out here [in matches].”