Bulldogs boys extend unbeaten streak at nets

Ceres High has won 44 straight WAC matches

Donnavin Koeurn, Ceres Highs No. 6 singles player, won both of his matches last week. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

dkoeurn.tiff — Donnavin Koeurn, Ceres Highs No. 6 singles player, won both of his matches last week. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Ceres High School's varsity boys tennis program lost 10 of its 12 starters from a year ago, including eight to graduation, one to baseball and one to crosstown-rival Central Valley.

Using a brand-new lineup, the Bulldogs began defense of their Western Athletic Conference title this past week.

Four-time defending WAC-champion Ceres High earned its 44th straight conference win dating back to the 2012 season with a 5-4 victory over visiting El Capitan on Thursday.

"It was a great team effort," Bulldogs new head coach Brandon Moring said. "We don't really talk about that (the streak). We focus on trying to get better."

Ceres High swept all three doubles and won two of six singles matches versus El Capitan.

"El Capitan is the favorite to win the WAC in most people's minds," Moring said. "They have a lot more experience than us. Their top five players are really good."

Tied at 3-3 in team scoring, Charles Lo, Ozzie Carrillo, Juan Hernandez and Adrian Covarrubias helped Ceres High build an insurmountable 5-3 lead.

Lo and Carrillo defeated Calvin Hu and Ethan Silvera 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 doubles play.

Hernandez and Covarrubias defeated Jesse Awarez and Jesus Rodriguez 6-1, 6-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Angelo Marino and Will Rodriguez, Ceres High's No. 3 doubles team, won by forfeit.

"I'm really proud of our doubles teams," Moring said. "They played really well. Without them, it could have been a different story."

Nolan McCaig, Ceres High's No. 1 singles player, continued his dominant run against WAC competition. McCaig improved his career record in conference play to 31-0 with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Lee Yang.

Donnavin Koeurn defeated El Capitan's Ying Yang 6-0, 6-1 in No. 6 singles play.

Christian Pimentel lost 6-0, 6-0 to El Capitan's Ger Chang in No. 2 singles play.

Christopher Padilla lost 6-1, 6-1 to Oliver Calos in No. 3 singles play.

Bruno de la Torre lost 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 to Joseph Vance in No. 4 singles play.

Jorge Campos lost 6-3, 6-2 to Brennan Garcia in No. 5 singles play.

The Bulldogs opened WAC play with a 9-0 win at Pacheco on Tuesday, March 1.

McCaig won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.

Pimentel won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.

Padilla won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.

Bruno de la Torre won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 singles.

Campos won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.

Koeurn won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6 singles.