In his — and the school’s — fourth year, Ridgeview boys tennis coach Todd Neville said he could have his best team yet.

The Ravens wrapped up regular season play May 9 with a 7-1 victory against Redmond, a makeup of a rained-out match originally scheduled for May 5. They head to Thursday and Friday’s Midwestern League district tournament in Roseburg with only two losses in dual matches. Other participating schools include Redmond, Ashland, Churchill, Marist Catholic, North Eugene and Springfield.

“We are definitely peaking toward the last of the season,” Neville said.

The coach feels good about his doubles teams, particularly the No. 1 team of Brett Blundell and T.J. Smith. The second doubles team of Matt Allen and Tyson Neville is also playing well.

Some Ridgeview singles players have the capability of getting the top four spots at district, which qualifies them for the May 19-21 Class 5A state tournament in Portland.

“If every boy on our team plays exceptionally well, we have a chance to take the team title,” Neville said of the district.

A family affair

Freshman Tyson Neville is Coach Todd Neville’s son. Senior Braden Allen and junior Matt Allen both play on the team, and their father is an assistant coach.

“It helps to have some fathers as coaches,” Todd Neville said. “It ties into the whole concept of tennis being a pass-along sport.”

Districts

Both the Ravens’ losses this season came in nonconference matches against Summit, the defending Class 5A state champions. Unlike most sports, where Redmond teams have to get past Bend schools, Ridgeview won’t have to worry about Summit until state in tennis. The Midwestern district pits Ridgeview and Redmond against schools in the Eugene area and southeastern Oregon.

Senior Dalton Lewis, Ridgeview’s No. 2 singles player, said the Ravens could lift the trophy at districts and send multiple players to Portland.

“It’s not unrealistic for us to hope for us to take the district title,” he said.

Fellow senior Blundell, who will attempt to reach state as a doubles player after making it in singles in 2015, thinks the team is better overall this season.

“My sophomore year, we had strong seniors that year,” he said. “This is my strongest year. I’m looking to take districts and possibly take state.”

The move to playing doubles with Smith, who transferred from Redmond High, has paid off, Blundell said.

“We have good chemistry,” he said. “We’re good partners.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com