Ceres High School's varsity girls tennis team continued its dominance against crosstown rival Central Valley last week.
The Bulldogs won 8-1 on Monday, Sept. 27 and upped their all-time record against the Hawks to 9-0. The inaugural Western Athletic Conference showdown was held at Central Valley in 100-plus degree heat.
"I didn't expect that much of a challenge," Ceres High head coach Bryan Harden said. "They were tough. I was a little worried the first 30 minutes. As the matches progressed, I knew the better team would come out on top. I was hoping it was us."
Three of the nine matches were decided in three sets, two of which were won by Ceres High (5-2).
"It was close early," Hawks head coach Mike Rodriguez said. "I thought we'd be there the whole way. All the girls competed hard."
The Bulldogs took five of six singles and all three doubles matches from Central Valley (4-3).
Marifer Ochoa defeated Jasmine Martinez 6-1, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.
Kelly Gallagher defeated Victoria Ochoa 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in No. 3 singles play.
"We were neck and neck the whole time," Gallagher said. "I knew it was going to be a challenge because she's really athletic."
Kaycee Creek defeated Elizabeth Amaya 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in No. 4 singles play.
Ashley Thiner defeated Cinthia Ramos 6-3, 6-1 in No. 5 singles play.
Kassandra Carrillo defeated Crystal Guzman 7-5, 6-1 in No. 6 singles play.
Myranda Price and Viridiana Arroyo defeated Julie Avila and Dominique Germann 6-0, 6-1 in No. 1 doubles play.
Ashton Frampton and Bethany Mazza defeated Jennifer Quezada and Krystal Ramirez 6-2, 6-3 in No. 2 doubles play.
Kim Ochoa and Karin Kainth defeated Jessica Berndt and Viridiana Gomez 6-2, 7-5 in No. 3 doubles play.
Ceres High's Kaylee Donovan lost 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to Central Valley's Lizette Covarrubias in No. 2 singles play. Donovan battled back from a 4-1 deficit in the third set.
"She (Donovan) fought the whole way," Harden said. "That's what I'm most proud of."
Said Rodriguez: "When Lizette plays tougher players, she raises her game."
When asked if Ceres High would ever lose to Central Valley in girls tennis, Gallagher said: "I don't think it's going to happen in the near future. We've won every singe time. We don't want to start losing to them now. We want to be superior to them."
"Every streak is made to be broken," Rodriguez said. "We got a good foundation going into next year. The main thing is trying to get some of the girls to play tennis outside of school."
The Bulldogs won 8-1 on Monday, Sept. 27 and upped their all-time record against the Hawks to 9-0. The inaugural Western Athletic Conference showdown was held at Central Valley in 100-plus degree heat.
"I didn't expect that much of a challenge," Ceres High head coach Bryan Harden said. "They were tough. I was a little worried the first 30 minutes. As the matches progressed, I knew the better team would come out on top. I was hoping it was us."
Three of the nine matches were decided in three sets, two of which were won by Ceres High (5-2).
"It was close early," Hawks head coach Mike Rodriguez said. "I thought we'd be there the whole way. All the girls competed hard."
The Bulldogs took five of six singles and all three doubles matches from Central Valley (4-3).
Marifer Ochoa defeated Jasmine Martinez 6-1, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.
Kelly Gallagher defeated Victoria Ochoa 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in No. 3 singles play.
"We were neck and neck the whole time," Gallagher said. "I knew it was going to be a challenge because she's really athletic."
Kaycee Creek defeated Elizabeth Amaya 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in No. 4 singles play.
Ashley Thiner defeated Cinthia Ramos 6-3, 6-1 in No. 5 singles play.
Kassandra Carrillo defeated Crystal Guzman 7-5, 6-1 in No. 6 singles play.
Myranda Price and Viridiana Arroyo defeated Julie Avila and Dominique Germann 6-0, 6-1 in No. 1 doubles play.
Ashton Frampton and Bethany Mazza defeated Jennifer Quezada and Krystal Ramirez 6-2, 6-3 in No. 2 doubles play.
Kim Ochoa and Karin Kainth defeated Jessica Berndt and Viridiana Gomez 6-2, 7-5 in No. 3 doubles play.
Ceres High's Kaylee Donovan lost 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to Central Valley's Lizette Covarrubias in No. 2 singles play. Donovan battled back from a 4-1 deficit in the third set.
"She (Donovan) fought the whole way," Harden said. "That's what I'm most proud of."
Said Rodriguez: "When Lizette plays tougher players, she raises her game."
When asked if Ceres High would ever lose to Central Valley in girls tennis, Gallagher said: "I don't think it's going to happen in the near future. We've won every singe time. We don't want to start losing to them now. We want to be superior to them."
"Every streak is made to be broken," Rodriguez said. "We got a good foundation going into next year. The main thing is trying to get some of the girls to play tennis outside of school."
