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Bulldogs extend winning streaks
CHS improves to 21-0 on the year, 8-0 in league play
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Alick Liang and Ceres Highs varsity boys tennis team have yet to lose a match in Western Athletic Conference play this season. Liang won twice as the Bulldogs improved to 8-0 in league last week. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Ceres High School's varsity boys tennis team extended a pair of impressive streaks this past week.

The Bulldogs, winners of 27 straight Western Athletic Conference matches since 2012, improved to 21-0 on the year following its 9-0 shutout of Pacheco on Wednesday in Ceres.

Ceres High (8-0 WAC) has four opponents left on its league schedule: Patterson, Central Catholic, Los Banos and Central Valley.

"We can talk about that stuff after the season is over," head coach Bryan Harden said. "It means nothing right now. I like to live in the moment."

Nolan McCaig defeated Chris Ballesteros 6-1, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.

Alick Liang defeated Ismael Orozco 6-0, 6-0 in No. 2 singles play.

Chase Harden defeated Angel Lopez 6-0, 6-0 in No. 3 singles play.

Rene Cortes defeated Carlos Bramila 6-0, 6-0 in No. 4 singles play.

Jordan Mey defeated Danny Espinoza 6-0, 6-0 in No. 5 singles play.

Jorge Ruiz defeated Antonio Martinez- Hipolito 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in No. 6 singles play.

Juan Jimenez and Julian Rodriguez defeated Jose Chavez and Miguel Salinas 6-1, 6-3 in No. 1 doubles play.

Heath Adrian and Dennis Phommalinh defeated Orlando Estrada and Anthony Quijano 6-0, 6-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Bruno de la Torre and Manuel Lazcano defeated Chris Barba and Jose Lara 6-4, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles play.

"The boys were very focused and took care of business," coach Harden said.

Ochoa, Liang, Harden, Mey, Ruiz, de la Torre, Lazcano, Phommalinh, Adrian, Shane Kumar, Charles Lo and David Gonzales helped lead Ceres High to an 8-0 victory over visiting Livingston on March 31.

"I was worried," Bryan Harden said. "We were missing five starters and a couple of my guys were sick."

Ochoa defeated Jacob Mercado 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles play.

Liang defeated Alex Mercado 6-0, 6-1 in No. 2 singles play.

Harden defeated Sal Cortes 7-5, 6-3 in No. 3 singles play.

Mey defeated Homero Servin 6-1, 6-3 in No. 4 singles play.
Ruiz defeate
d Jaime Merino 6-2, 6-2 in No. 5 singles play.

Kumar and Lazcano defeated Emmanuel Jimenez and Diego Jimenez 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in No. 1 doubles play.

Phommalinh and Lo defeated Enrique and Angel Hernandez 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Adrian and Gonzales defeated Harjot Sidhu and Cristian Solorio 6-1, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles play.

Bruno de la Torre's No. 6 singles match versus Kevin Castro was stopped due to rain. Both players won six games in the first set.

The Bulldogs continued their dominance.

"I like my kids to have confidence," Bryan Harden said. "The second I get a hint of them not being humble, I squash it."

Ceres High posted a 30-2 overall record, brought home a second-place trophy from the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II Tournament, claimed their second consecutive WAC title (12-0) and qualified for the playoffs for the fourth year in a row in 2013.

"Getting to the section finals last year was awesome," Harden said. "I think we overachieved. If our season ended right now, we had a great year."