BETHLEHEM - It was a rush of emotions unlike any Aaron Miller had experienced this spring.

Unbeaten during the regular season, the Lehighton senior entered the District 11 Class 2A singles tournament with hopes of extending his remarkable run.

Those dreams were dashed when Miller suffered a 7-5, 6-2 first-round loss to Moravian Academy’s Brian Yang on Monday at Lehigh University’s Ulrich Courts.

It was a difficult defeat for Miller, though it was one that won’t define his season.

“It’s been real good,” said Lehighton head coach Cody Schuler. “The other players like playing with him, and hitting around. And it’s something to strive for, to be that type of player. It definitely helped the program out.”

The third seed, Miller trailed 4-3 in the first set before winning the next two games without surrendering a point to go ahead 5-4.

But Yang - who was unseeded - rallied. He took the next three games – with the final two going to deuce – to seal the set and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

“You’re focused, you’re dialed in,” said Miller. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well. When I started losing, it really weighed on my mental game.”

An ace by Miller put him ahead 40-30 with a chance to go ahead in the match 6-5, but Yang forced deuce point, and eventually won the game.

Miller led 15-0 before Yang took a 40-15 advantage in the final game of the first set. Miller pushed it to 40-40 before a shot went wide and Yang secured the set.

“He slowed it down, which was really the way to beat me; just to keep it slow and change the pace of the game,” said Miller. “I play so much better when I’m just going through games, and just going fast. But he was able to hit some slow shots, some drop shots that had me moving around. And his game was impressive for how young he his.

“Just disappointed in myself.”

A powerful and skilled player, Miller wasn’t able to locate his first serve against Yang.

“My flat serve was just not here today,” said Miller. “I really couldn’t get it in; couldn’t get it where I wanted it, and I just had to resort to that slower serve, which he was able to just kind of get back to me. Then he won it from groundstrokes, his backhand, and just a mix of slowing it down, and then hitting some power shots. He just played a great game.”

Yang built a 5-0 lead in the second set. He won deuce point in the second game, and secured the next three games after building leads of 40-30.

Miller saved match point when he forced deuce and Yang’s shot went long to make it 5-1.

The senior prevailed in the next game when Yang’s shot went into the net.

Yang trailed 30-15 in the final game, before winning the final three points to finish off the match.

The Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Tennis Player of the Year last spring, Miller built on his success from a year ago and entered districts with a 14-0 record.

Miller - who will play golf in college at Indiana Wesleyan - spent time with his dad, Trevor, to get ready for the tennis season.

“What actually really helped me was playing ping-pong with my dad,” said Aaron. “Because I could get the mechanics down and see what I needed to do, just on a smaller scale. And then I kind of translated to when we started the season.”

And it was one he won’t soon forget.

UP NEXT

... The semis and finals for the Class 2A and 3A singles tournaments will be held Wednesday at Northwood Racquet Club beginning at 11 a.m.

MORE TO COME

... The Class 2A and 3A team tournaments are set to begin next Tuesday, followed by the doubles tournaments the following week. Miller and the Tribe could see more success in both events.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

... While Miller enjoyed tremendous individual success this season, he was maybe more proud of what the Indians accomplished as a team. Lehighton finished the season with an 11-3 record, winning its final 10 matches. Miller hopes the successes of this season are just the beginning for the squad. “I’ve been working with some of the younger guys, Daniel Hoppes, Luke Blauch and Bayto Cokrlija, I’m excited to see them next year,” said Miller. “I’ve just been working with them, trying to improve their game, and I really want to see them do well next year, and just continue what we started.”