Boys' tennis team goes international
By Bob Liepa

Alex Mulliez is starting to feel at home in this melting pot called America. Cultural diversity is an appealing aspect to his new life, and he need look no further than the Riverhead High School boys' tennis team to appreciate it.

The Blue Waves boast no fewer than four exchange students from three countries. Mulliez is from Barcelona, Spain, as is Arnau Romagosa. Meanwhile, Nacho Nattero is from Argentina and Bert Neysen is from Belgium. It's quite an international cast.

"Four exchange students among 10 players; it's a good average," said Mulliez, who joined his host Jamesport family in September.

The students are all new to tennis, except for Mulliez, who's emerged as Riverhead's top singles player. With four years of playing experience behind him, Mulliez offers a consistent game with a strong serve that's served him well. On Monday he evened his record to 2-2 with a 6-0, 6-0 defeat of Southold senior Jamie Kramer.

Mulliez had broken the string on his racket during warmups, and played with a racket he borrowed from his fellow countryman, Romagosa. Afterward he joked, "It was the racket that won."

Riverhead swept the three doubles matches to assure itself of a 5-2 League VIII victory over the First Settlers at the Pulaski Street School courts. The first doubles pair of Jackson Moller and Nattero topped Steve Mosblech and Glen Zaneski, 6-4, 7-5. Kevin Biglin and Sean Dayton rebounded nicely from a tiebreaker loss in the first set to overcome James Preston and Craig Zissel, 6-7 (0-7), 6-4, 6-2, in second doubles. And in third doubles, Neysen and Romagosa teamed up to defeat Andrew Gregg and Josh Hubbard, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The other match Riverhead won was in fourth singles, where Matt Kulka beat A.J. Stype, 6-2, 6-3.

Mulliez, who chatted in Spanish with Kramer before the match, has proven to be a blessing for the Blue Waves (3-2 overall, 3-1 in League VIII) this year. However, Riverhead coach Steve Paskiewicz has noticed one area where Mulliez seems to be lacking. "He's not a really aggressive player," Paskiewicz said. "He doesn't attack, attack like the American kids do."

As for the three other foreigners, Paskiewicz said, "They've been improving from the first day they held a tennis racket in their hands."

Mulliez had a choice of three areas of the United States to live in, but when he learned Long Island was one of them, it really wasn't a difficult decision for him. "I wanted to live in New York," he explained. "In the movies, all the time you see New York, New York."

And Mulliez, who figures he's visited the Big Apple at least 15 times, has learned that not everything you see in the movies (read: widespread violence) is entirely in keeping with reality. "The first time I went, I said, 'Are you sure it's safe?' " he recalled.

Mulliez is enjoying his New World experience, meeting Americans who he says are friendlier than Europeans. "I like it a lot," he said. "It's a different culture. I learn something new each day."

One of the most difficult transitions he's had to make was adjusting to a new language. He'd studied English for four years, but struggled and failed classes. People assured him, however, that when he spent time living in the United States he'd pick it up like magic, and he has.

Mulliez, who also speaks French and Spanish, now speaks English fluently and as smoothly as he plays tennis.

Southold (1-3, 1-2) made things interesting when two of its freshmen won singles matches. Brian Ball evened his record at 2-2 with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 triumph over Mike Jehle in second singles. Micah Frankel handled his third-singles opponent, Aaron Hughes, 6-2, 6-1.

Both teams won their matches last Thursday. Riverhead edged the William Floyd Colonials, 4-3. Southold beat the Hampton Bays Baymen, 6-1.