After a rainy afternoon, the sun finally emerged on the Smithtown East High School tennis courts, and so did Whitman’s Sam Lopez-Cardenas' confidence.

Lopez-Cardenas fell 3-6 in the first set, but after a 20-minute rain delay, he came out and defeated Ward Melville’s Shashank Pannabadi 6-0, 6-1, earning the Suffolk County individual title on Friday.

“It was really tough waiting so long, I was trying to stay positive and not let that first set get into my head,” Lopez-Cardenas said. “I think that really helped me push forward in the second and third set and just kick off with a really good start.”

Becoming a county champion has been a goal of Lopez-Cardenas since he joined varsity in the seventh grade.

“He’s really grown in confidence,” Whitman coach Seth Novick said. “His style of play has gotten more and more refined, and he doesn’t let anything get him down.”

During both his freshman and sophomore seasons, Lopez-Cardenas was an alternate at the state championships. After taking a year off of competing at the high school level to focus on training, the Ithaca College commit finally has the chance to earn a state title.

“I’m really excited, especially after only being an alternate,” Lopez-Cardenas said. “It’s a really beautiful thing to have this experience in my senior year.”

The rain delay also powered the Half Hollow Hills East doubles team of Lohit Madisetty and Marcus Gonzales. Prior to the delay, they lost their first set 3-6 to Commack seniors Eric Benderly and Jeffrey Behar.

Senior Madisetty said the delay was actually a tool; it halted Commack’s momentum.

“We both knew we had to do something different,” Madisetty said. “We got our energy up and took control.”

They took the second set 6-4 and sealed the win with a 6-1 third set.

“It was just unreal tennis,” coach Steven Ferrantello said. “I just can’t be more proud of the way they came back. They kept believing in themselves and never gave up.”

Madisetty has been here before, but his eighth-grade partner, Gonzales, says that playing with Madisetty has given him confidence.

“Lohit’s an amazing player,” Gonzales said. “I wouldn’t be able to be as confident on the court as I am if it weren’t for him and his experience.”

Sachem junior Leonardo Villacreses defeated Ignacio Pena Lopez of Ross 6-4, 7-5, securing third place in Suffolk, qualifying him for the state championship meet starting June 6 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens.

“It was a very close match,” Villacreses said. “The second set was very tough. I’m very excited to have the opportunity to go to states.”

Villacreses moved from Ecuador a year and a half ago, and Sachem coach Larry Sasponik could sense his talent from the first time they met.

“I remember when he came down as a 10th grader, and I went to hit with him just to see how he played,” Sasponik said. “I was just mesmerized and impressed. I’m so excited for him.”

Pannabadi, Benderly and Behar will also be competing at the state championships.