Ceres High School's varsity boys tennis team completed a near-perfect run through the Western Athletic Conference regular season this past week.
The first-place Bulldogs shut out Central Valley 9-0 on the road last Wednesday, improved to 20-1 on the year and secured the WAC's No. 1 seed for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II Playoffs.
Ceres High won 11 of its 12 conference matches.
The Bulldogs also improved their all-time record versus the crosstown Hawks to 12-0.
Central Valley (2-10) placed sixth in the league standings.
"I expected to do well," Ceres High head coach Bryan Harden said. "I'd be lying to you if I told you I thought we'd be 20-1 at this point in the season. Everybody's played a big part. I'm proud of the boys."
Julio Ochoa defeated Chan Chau 6-0, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.
Gurman Bains defeated Alexis Zigala 6-0, 6-3 in No. 2 singles play.
Alick Liang defeated Alex Sanchez 6-0, 6-0 in No. 3 singles play.
Chase Harden defeated Eddy Perales 6-3, 6-0 in No. 4 singles play.
Jordan Mey defeated Alexis Villa 6-0, 6-4 in No. 5 singles play.
Victor Pimentel defeated Eric Robles 6-0, 6-1 in No. 6 singles play.
Trevor Brazil and Esteban de la Torre defeated Jesus Lopez and Edgar Castillo 6-1, 6-1 in No. 1 doubles play.
Sergio Zepeda and David Cisneros defeated David Saucedo and Justin Omaque 6-0, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles play.
Heath Adrian and Shane Kumar defeated Brandyn Weis and Wing Chang 6-2, 6-4 in No. 3 doubles play.
Liang, a sophomore, and Pimentel, a senior, both went undefeated in conference play (12-0).
"Victor's one of the toughest-minded kids I've had in a long time," Harden said. "He always gives everything he has. With the exception of Julio, Alick's been the most consistent performer this season. I don't think there's a limit to what he can accomplish if he sets his mind to it."
Said Pimentel: "I had a lot of help from my coach."
Victor, a second-year starter, contributed at doubles in 2011. He was named Ceres High's Most Improved Player as a junior. Pimentel and his partners went a combined 10-2.
"I feel more comfortable playing singles," he said. "You depend on yourself and nobody else. That's what I like."
Ceres High will compete in the WAC singles and doubles tournaments this week at Pacheco High School.
Ochoa, Liang, Bains, Harden, Pimentel, Brazil and de la Torre could all see playing time.
Alick and Bains finished second in doubles last season. Liang advanced to semifinals in singles.
Ceres High will participate in the playoffs for the third year in a row on May 1.
The first-place Bulldogs shut out Central Valley 9-0 on the road last Wednesday, improved to 20-1 on the year and secured the WAC's No. 1 seed for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II Playoffs.
Ceres High won 11 of its 12 conference matches.
The Bulldogs also improved their all-time record versus the crosstown Hawks to 12-0.
Central Valley (2-10) placed sixth in the league standings.
"I expected to do well," Ceres High head coach Bryan Harden said. "I'd be lying to you if I told you I thought we'd be 20-1 at this point in the season. Everybody's played a big part. I'm proud of the boys."
Julio Ochoa defeated Chan Chau 6-0, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.
Gurman Bains defeated Alexis Zigala 6-0, 6-3 in No. 2 singles play.
Alick Liang defeated Alex Sanchez 6-0, 6-0 in No. 3 singles play.
Chase Harden defeated Eddy Perales 6-3, 6-0 in No. 4 singles play.
Jordan Mey defeated Alexis Villa 6-0, 6-4 in No. 5 singles play.
Victor Pimentel defeated Eric Robles 6-0, 6-1 in No. 6 singles play.
Trevor Brazil and Esteban de la Torre defeated Jesus Lopez and Edgar Castillo 6-1, 6-1 in No. 1 doubles play.
Sergio Zepeda and David Cisneros defeated David Saucedo and Justin Omaque 6-0, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles play.
Heath Adrian and Shane Kumar defeated Brandyn Weis and Wing Chang 6-2, 6-4 in No. 3 doubles play.
Liang, a sophomore, and Pimentel, a senior, both went undefeated in conference play (12-0).
"Victor's one of the toughest-minded kids I've had in a long time," Harden said. "He always gives everything he has. With the exception of Julio, Alick's been the most consistent performer this season. I don't think there's a limit to what he can accomplish if he sets his mind to it."
Said Pimentel: "I had a lot of help from my coach."
Victor, a second-year starter, contributed at doubles in 2011. He was named Ceres High's Most Improved Player as a junior. Pimentel and his partners went a combined 10-2.
"I feel more comfortable playing singles," he said. "You depend on yourself and nobody else. That's what I like."
Ceres High will compete in the WAC singles and doubles tournaments this week at Pacheco High School.
Ochoa, Liang, Bains, Harden, Pimentel, Brazil and de la Torre could all see playing time.
Alick and Bains finished second in doubles last season. Liang advanced to semifinals in singles.
Ceres High will participate in the playoffs for the third year in a row on May 1.
