Withfive of the top six seeds returning from a squad that won the Northern Region team championship, Robinson’s boys tennis team was expected to do well this season.
But the Rams have been even better than advertised. Not only have they won all 12 matches played, but only Episcopal has managed to take more than one game from Robinson. And the Maroon, who the Rams beat 6-3 on April 5, were 9-1 entering a match Thursday night against O’Connell.
If they manage to win a Group AAA state team championship — Robinson reached the state semifinals last year — it would be the first time a Northern Virginia program has done so since Langley in 1994. So far this season, the Rams have won eight matches by 9-0 scores and another three matches 8-1.
“It’s always nice when you’re playing well. But the thought of winning a state title isn’t something that drives us through every practice,” said Robinson All-Examiner senior Mike Smith, a state singles semifinalist in 2005. “We always take things like that step by step. It’s up to us to earn our way there.”
Depth is the Rams’ best weapon. Smith, sophomore All-Examiner No. 1 Drew Courtney and junior twins Matt and Riley King at No. 3 and No. 4 all have significant postseason experience. Courtney and Smith even beat the King brothers in last year’s state doubles final.
Robinson did suffer a setback earlier this week when freshman No. 5 Stephen Hardy underwent an appendectomy. He will miss the final regular season match against Chantilly on Monday.
