They were the last set on court in the first round. Win, and the Lightning had a 4-2 lead. Lose, and Sage was in a 3-3 tie.
Rapport told Longoria not to tell him what the overall match score was. Sherman said after the match that he didn't mind knowing.
"We just knew we had to win," said Sherman, the transfer from Minnesota.
They did, rallying from a 5-3 deficit to win the set, 7-5. The Lightning never looked back, breezing past Kennedy, 14-4, in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 second-round match.
Sage Hill, the defending CIF champion, plays host to Vista Murrieta in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday. The Lightning won the pre-flip.
Vista Murrieta defeated Redlands, 12-6, in another second-round match Friday.
"It feels nice," Rapport said. "After last year, we've got some big expectations. We're definitely looking for the title this year ... It's pressure we're putting on ourselves. But at the same time, I'm a senior this year, Robbe [Simon] is a senior, Alex [Manolakas] is a senior. We've all been on the team for a long time. It just would be a nice way to cap it off."
Since Sage (11-10) finished third in the Academy League, it was forced to play a wild-card match. Friday was the Lightning's third match in four days.
They still looked good in doubles, winning eight of nine sets. The No. 1 team of Manolakas and senior Denis Cirit, as well as the No. 2 team of Magliarditi and Ryan Lee, both swept. Sherman and Rapport took two of three sets.
Simon earned a "triple bagel" with a trio of 6-0 sets at No. 1 singles for the Lightning, who have changed their lineup. Longoria said that was necessary, as Lee has a cyst on his right wrist.
