It’s hard to say which block of matches is most significant for Newtown High School’s boys’ tennis team: A four-match winning streak that unfolded April 13–21, or back-to-back hard-fought setbacks to tough South-West Conference foes Weston and Pomperaug of Southbury, April 25 and 27, respectively.

After all, those victories were the team’s first four wins of the campaign, and provided a boost of confidence for the Nighthawks, and the losses came to familiar foes whom the Nighthawks will likely have to try to overcome in the conference tournament; not to mention those squads are providing good tests which should help the Hawks come both conference and state tournament time.

“They’re a lot like the teams we’ll see when we get to double L states,” Newtown Coach Brett Teolis said of Weston, which came into the week having only lost to nonconference foe Fairfield Prep, and Pomperaug, which had lost only to those defending conference champion Weston Trojans, who beat NHS for the crown last spring.

Newtown nearly handed visiting Pomperaug another defeat, falling 4-3 in the second meeting between the teams, on April 27.

Two days earlier, Weston beat Newtown 7-0. Both squads handed the Hawks 5-2 defeats early in the campaign, but the rematches gave Teolis some reason for optimism.

“They were close matches considering it was a 7-0 score,” Teolis said of the Weston clash, adding that his squad won the first sets at first singles as well as second and third doubles, and that in the No. 2 singles slot, Weston overcame 5-2 and 5-1 deficits to pull out a two-set win.

As Teolis notes, there are things his players can do differently — whether it’s attack the net, or become more aggressive with serves, for example — to try and overcome their rivals when they meet again in the conference tourney.

Last year, Newtown beat Pomperaug in the regular season to earn the second seed and a home match with the Panthers, which Newtown won. This year, if the top few teams remain the same with Weston in first and Pomperaug and Newtown behind the Trojans, it’s likely the Panthers will have home court advantage given the recent outcome.

Newtown has beaten Immaculate of Danbury 6-1, Joel Barlow twice — by scores of 5-2 and 4-3 — and Brookfield by a 7-0 score.

Teolis believes that solidifying his doubles lineup after some early-season tinkering is starting to pay dividends. Kunal Marwah and James Frazzetta have settled in as the No. 1 pairing; Michael Dutsar and Justin Oelberg combine to play second doubles; and Grant Larson and Jordan Klein are in the third spot. This singles lineup is led by No. 1 player Keaton McCleary, followed by Joey Conrod, Matt Carino, and Peter Winans. Freshman Constantine Vogiatzis got into the lineup against Pomperaug on April 27.

The Hawks returned to their winning ways with a 6-1 win at Bunnell of Stratford on April 28. Newtown improved to 5-4 heading into an April 29 match with Stratford.

All in all, this spring, the Nighthawks are enjoying their time together thanks to strong camaraderie.  “We’re having a lot of fun. The guys are very close — everybody gets along,” Teolis said.

Results of recent matches are as follows:

Pomperaug 4, Newtown 3

1. Joe Alvord (P) def Keaton McCleary 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.

2. Joey Conrod (N) def Patrick Lebel 6-4, 6-2.

3. Matt Carino (N) def Matt Doan 7-5, 6-1.

4. Alfredo Mondragon (P) def Dino Vogiatzis 6-0, 6-2.

1. Ricky Ribas/Sean Dolan (P) def Kunal Marwah/James Frazzetta 6-0, 6-1.

2. Tanner Harelick/Austin Wang (P) def Justin Oelberg/Michael Dutsar 7-6, 6-4.

3. Grant Larson/Jordan Klein (N) def Dylan Benoit/Josh Bernstein 7-6, 7-5.

Weston 7, Newtown 0

1. Eric Nalbandian (W) def Keaton McCleary 6-0, 6-3.

2. Sebastian Casellas (W) def Joey Conrod 7-5, 7-6.

3. Charles Gosnell (W) def Matt Carino 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

4. Eric Benninghoff (W) def Dino Vogiatzis 6-0, 6-3.

1. Greg Portnal/Pranal Madan (W) def Kunal Marwah/James Frazzetta 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

2. Matt Sydney/Ishan Mirchandi (W) def Michael Dutsar/Justin Oelberg 6-7, 6-4, 1-0.

3. Jesse Kallins/Steven Bampf (W) def Grant Larson/Jordan Klein 4-6, 6-3 1-0.

Newtown 6, Bunnell 1

1. Blake Norton (B) def Keaton McCleary 6-1, 6-2.

2. Joey Conrod (N) def Sean Karasik 6-3, 6-2.

3. Matt Carino (N) def Ben Stein 6-3, 6-2.

4. James Frazzetta (N) def David Jungen 6-0, 6-7, 6-2.

1. Michael Dutsar/Justin Oelberg (N) def Hong/Sells 6-1, 6-0.

2. Grant Larson/Jordan Klein (N) def Harris/Jackle 6-1, 6-1.

3. Matt Frazzetta/ Dino Vogiatzis (N) def Dinardo/Gausp 6-2, 6-3.