Vying for its seventh straight playoff berth, Ceres High School's varsity girls tennis team couldn't afford to open the Western Athletic Conference season with back-to-back losses.

The Bulldogs salvaged a split last week under new head coach Jack Jacques' guidance last week.

"He (Bryan Harden) was a great coach," Jacques said. "He's been at Ceres High for a long time. I look forward to every challenge in front of me. It will be fun to try to get this team back to places they've been before. My job is to continue to build the program."

Ceres High edged visiting Livingston 5-4 on Thursday.

The Bulldogs won four of six singles and one of three doubles matches against the Wolves.

Marifer Ochoa defeated Marabella Moscorro 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles play.

Bianca DeAnda defeated Taranpreet Kaur 6-0, 6-2 in No. 3 singles play.

Angelica Slater defeated Maggie Mendoza 6-2, 6-4 in No. 4 singles play.

Jasmine Esparza defeated Maria Vera 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in No. 5 singles play.

Gabriella Blandino lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Jasdeep Bassi in No. 2 singles play.

Justine Vega lost 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to Karina Ramos in No. 6 singles play.

Janet Jimenez and Jolyce Vega defeated Avneet Uppal and Elisa Armenta 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in No. 1 doubles play.

Juliana Rosas and Bryanna Lopez lost 7-5, 6-1 to Jennie Garcia and Amalia Barragan in No. 2 doubles play.

Stephanie Garcia and Andria Esho lost 6-3, 6-2 to Cynthia Frias and Claudia Esquivel in No. 3 doubles play.

Ceres High lost 7-2 at Central Catholic on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The Bulldogs dropped five of six singles and one of two doubles matches versus the Raiders.

Ochoa defeated Payton Kelley 6-4, 6-2 in No. 1 singles play.

Garcia and Esho defeated Bianca Jauregui and Lauren Aja 6-2, 6-2 in No. 6 doubles play.

Blandino lost 6-0, 6-0 to Emma Withrow in No. 2 singles play.

DeAnda lost 6-0, 6-0 to Amie Ardies in No. 3 singles play.

Slater lost 6-3, 6-3 to Gabby Sani in No. 4 singles play.

Esparza lost 6-0, 6-0 to Rosella Rangel in No. 5 singles play.

Justine Vega lost 6-0, 6-2 to Brigid Crowley in No. 6 singles play.

Jimenez and Jolyce Vega lost 6-1, 6-1 to Nicole Nicholson and Gianna DiGiovanni in No. 1 doubles play.

Rosas and Lopez lost 6-4, 3-6, 9-7 to Katie Minato and Sarah Alviso in No. 2 doubles play.

"We'll get better," Jacques said.