William Byrd started Monday with high hopes and high expectations, as they arrived at Harrisonburg High School for the Region III singles and doubles tournament.  Brennan Escobar was there to defend his 2009 Regional Singles Title, and teammate Joseph Davis would join him in morning quarterfinal singles play. Escobar and Trevor Perdue were then scheduled to play a noon quarterfinal doubles match. 

As the 10 a.m. start time approached for singles play, Escobar's opponent, Nick Garfield from Jefferson Forest was absent. The allotted time came and went, and Escobar won by default.  Davis played a strong match, using his speed and  his slice backhand as his primary weapons, but he eventually lost out to Rockbridge's Ty Ashworth 6-4; 6-3. 

At noon, Trevor Perdue and partner, Brennan Escobar, took the court against the doubles team from Brookville.  The first set was a see-saw affair with many of the exchanges occurring in close quarters at the net.  Brookville surged forward from a 4-4 tie and took the first set 6-4. The Bees continued their aggressive play into the second set and closed out Escobar and Perdue 6-1. 

In the afternoon singles, Escobar drew Kyle Knupp of Broadway.  For the better part of three hours on this sweltering Memorial Day, Escobar and Knupp went toe-to-toe in a marvelous three set match.  Their games so evenly matched and so similar, Knupp and Escobar must have felt like they were playing a mirror image of themselves.  Knupp used a heavy topspin forehand and a deft forehand slice to take the first set 6-4.  In the second, Escobar played serve and volley effectively and jumped out to a 4-2 lead.  Knupp answered decisively by winning the next three games to push Escobar to the brink of elimination at 5-4, but Escobar painted the sidelines with slices and volleys to take three straight and win the second set 7-5.  The third set held more of the same, as each player seemed poised to take command.   At 4-4, Knupp executed a series of lobs and forehand passing shots so precise that Escobar finally had no answer.  Knupp earned the victory 6-4 in the third.  

Indeed, Escobar said as much to the Broadway coaches, as the players exited the court.