Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s varsity girls tennis programs both placed second in their respective conferences and advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs last fall.
The Hawks and Bulldogs will face rebuilding years in 2019 as a host of talent was lost to graduation.
“There will be a lot of growing pains because of the lack of playing experience and youth on the team,” Central Valley head coach Mike Rodriguez said. “They just need more match experience.”
The Hawks return five of 12 starters from a year ago, including Bandna Bhatti (Jr.), Virginia Moore (Jr.), Sabina Dhillon (Jr.), Christina Hermenegildo (Sr.) and Sadie Porras (Jr).
Cassandra Leon (Jr.), Edith Amaya (Jr.), Natalia Rubio (Jr.), Jessica Saini (So.), Ashley Corro (Jr.), Alicia Sanchez (Sr.) and Malina Keomuangchanh (So.) will also contribute.
Moore earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore. Moore and 2019 grad Daniela Yepez won all 14 of their doubles matches.
“The coaching staff believes that this group really has a bright future over the next couple of years. The girls are very coachable.”Coach Mike Rodriguez
“The coaching staff believes that this group really has a bright future over the next couple of years,” Rodriguez said. “The girls are very coachable.”
Ceres High returns seven starters from last season: Tania Garfias (Sr.), Jillian Jimenez (Sr.), Gurmen Bahia (Sr.), Christel Ontiveros (Sr.), Jasmine Bahia (Jr.), Monica Esparza (Sr.) and Gurmannet Bahia (So.).
The Bulldogs have a new head coach in Dave Ortiz.
Ortiz coached Ceres High’s varsity boys golf team this past spring.
Central Valley amassed a program-best 14-5 overall record in 2018.
The Hawks won 12 of 14 matches during their first season in the Central California Conference.
Ceres High compiled an 11-3 record in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs’ WAC schedule includes matches against Los Banos, Pacheco, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Lathrop and Mountain House.
The Hawks will face Patterson, Livingston, Merced, Golden Valley, El Capitan, Buhach Colony and Atwater.
“As a program we have done very well at competing for playoffs every year and I feel this team can do that if they continue improving,” Rodriguez said.
