The Highlanders opened the North Coast Section (NCS) – Division 2 playoffs with a 5-2 win over visiting Justin Siena-Napa on May 7.
Sajan Srivastava 
Charlie Lambert
The Highlanders (13-11) advance to the second round, where they will host Sir Francis Drake-San Anselmo on May 9. The match is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
“I thought from the top to the bottom we played well,” Piedmont coach James Landes said.
Walker Mahany 
Nick Lynn
Piedmont swept the doubles matches and split the singles matches. The Highlanders No. 1 doubles team of Sajan Srivastava and Charlie Lambert defeated Paul Kelly and Luc DeMartini, 6-0, 6-2. Nick Lynn and Walker Mahany beat Dex Kelly and Peter Bowman-Davis at No. 2 doubles, 6-1, 6-0. At No. 3 doubles, it was the Piedmont team of Akash Kothari and Alan Rossi downing Lucca Sebastiani and Anthony Fanin, 6-0, 6-1.
Akash Kothari 
Alan Rossi
In singles, Justin-Siena won Nos. 1 and 2 in tight matches. Jakob Schultz beat the Highlanders Matt Chan in the top match, 7-5, 7-5. At No. 2, it was Jose Chopitea beating Nick Lalli, 6-3, 2-6, 10-7.
Nick Lalli 
Matt Chan
Carson Breber won the No. 3 match for Piedmont over Nick Reyna, 6-1, 6-4. Breber has been recovering from injuries to both knees and missed the first part of the season.
Luke Hawkins 
Carson Breber
“Carson is playing better and better,” Landes said. “I thought that was his best match of the season. He doesn’t have his full mobility back. But it’s much better.”
Luke Hawkins won at No. 4 singles over Rylie Dombrowski, 6-0, 6-0.
In a preview of the next round, Landes said Sir Francis Drake (13-6) is a good team. The Pirates defeated Arcata, 4-3, in the first round.
Photos by Brian Mahany