Senior Tania Garfias filled the top singles spot in the Ceres High School girls tennis team’s starting lineup this fall.

“It was not a shock to see her earn all-league honors,” Bulldogs’ coach Michelle Casey said. “The title was well-earned. Tania has strong ground strokes and great strategy development. Throughout the season, she developed stronger cross court shots that led to her controlling the matches.”

Garfias received first-team, all-Western Athletic Conference honors.

A four-year player with the Bulldogs, Garfias compiled a 9-7 record against WAC competition in 2019.

She won 8 of 14 matches at No. 1 singles during the conference’s regular season.

She advanced to the quarterfinals of the league tournament on Oct. 28 in Ceres.

Garfias bested one of her two opponents.

She topped Pacheco’s Litzy Rivera 7-5, 6-4 in the opening round.

She lost 6-2, 6-1 to Los Banos’ Sarah White.

Garfias and fellow senior Jillian Jimenez also reached the quarterfinals at the WAC Doubles Championships on Oct. 30.

They beat Arianna Sanchez and Bianca Montoya in the first round.

Garfias and Jimenez lost to Los Banos’ Kierstyn Cotta and Trinity Meza.

“Tania built a playbook of strategies to apply to individual matches based on how her opponent played,” Casey said. “All of these strengths led to her success.”

Garfias filled a major role as Ceres High secured its second straight Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth and finished third overall in the WAC standings (9-5).

“Every moment coaching Tania was enjoyable, and she presented herself as a leader and she was team captain all season because of her leadership skills, professionalism and athletic abilities,” Casey said. “I will miss her greatly as she graduates this school year.”