Central Valley’s girls tennis team suffered a loss for the first time in over two years in Western Athletic Conference play last week.

Ceres High showed improvement in defeat.

“Zero sense of disappointment,” Hawks’ head coach Nimrat Chahal said. “We’re proud of the streak. It’s impressive. It will be hard to repeat something like that. Having players that are committed and motivated is the big thing.”

“They’re getting better every week,” Bulldogs’ leader Jesse Apodaca stated.

Two-time defending WAC-champion Central Valley lost 5-4 at Beyer on Sept. 14.

“Credit to Beyer,” Chahal said. “They have a good team. They have more experience.”

The Hawks won their previous 28 matches in conference play dating back to the 2024 season.

“We don’t think about the past,” Chahal said. “We’re trying to play for this year. Every year is a new year.”

Central Valley won three of six singles matches and one of three doubles matches versus Beyer.

“We were in position to win the match,” Chahal said. “It came down to third doubles.”

Emily Carranza prevailed 6-4, 7-5 in No. 1 singles play.

Serath Birring prevailed 6-2, 6-4 in No. 2 singles play.

Valerie Espinoza prevailed 6-4, 7-5 in No. 3 singles play.

Lizette Tafolla and Victoria Jamie Dominguez prevailed 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in No. 2 doubles play.

“It was close,” Chahal said. “Our girls competed.”

Central Valley bounced back with an 8-1 victory over Livingston on Sept. 16 in Ceres.

“We expected to win,” Chahal said. “Some of the matches were close.”

The Hawks swept all six singles and won two of three doubles matches versus the Wolves.

Carranza prevailed 3-6, 6-1, 10-7 in No. 1 singles play.

Birring prevailed 6-0, 6-3 in No. 2 singles play.

Espinoza prevailed via default in No. 3 singles play. She won the first set by a score of 6-0.

Natalie Campos prevailed 6-0, 6-0 in No. 4 singles play.

Yahiza Bustos prevailed 6-0, 6-1 in No. 5 singles play.

Samantha Sarabia Zavala prevailed 6-1, 6-0 in No. 6 singles play.

Aaralyn Jauregui and Lauren Salvatera prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 in No. 1 doubles play.

Tafolla and Isabella Michelena prevailed 4-6, 6-1, 10-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Central Valley moved to 3-1 in the WAC standings.

Ceres High dropped to 0-4 in the WAC standings after losing 7-2 to Pacheco on Sept. 16 in Los Banos.

“Most of the teams we’re facing have experienced singles players,” Bulldogs’ head coach Jesse Apodaca said. “It’s going to continue to be an uphill battle. We’re going to have to keep fighting.”

The Bulldogs won two of three doubles matches against the Panthers.

Ceres High’s Michelle Salas and Kiara Gutierrez Ayala bested Pacheco’s Alison Vargas and Kate Feliciano 6-2, 6-3 in No. 2 doubles play.

Briseyda Erenas Rios and Marisol Gomez bested Stephany Alvarado Palacios and Alianna Rojas 6-4, 2-6, 11-9 in No. 3 doubles play.

“Our No. 2 and 3 doubles teams are undefeated on the year,” Apodaca said. “That’s a major bright spot I wasn’t expecting.”

Ceres High lost 6-3 to visiting Lathrop on Sept. 14.

“The effort was good,” Apodaca said. “We could have won. It comes down to self belief.”

The Bulldogs won two of three doubles and one of six singles matches versus the Spartans.

Salas and Gutierrez Ayala bested E’Mya Mathis and Montauge Nealson 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Erenas Rios and Gomez bested Tatum Perez and Lia Gallegos 7-5, 6-1 in No. 3 doubles play

Helena Trujillo bested Jennifer Ramos 6-1, 6-4 in No. 1 singles play.

CROSS COUNTRY

Central Valley’s boys cross country team had a strong showing during the Western Athletic Conference’s first cluster meet of the season on Sept. 9 at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.

Eliseo Madrigal, Enoc Reyes, Diego Gutierrez, Armando Gutierrez and Isaiah Ruiz led the Hawks to a second-place finish.

Central Valley totaled 37 points.

Beyer (28), Livingston (104), Lathrop (105), Johansen (112) and Pacheco (142) took first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Ceres High and Grace Davis didn’t post team scores due to a lack of numbers.

“It’s not a surprise,” Hawks’ head coach Horacio Garcia said while talking about his team’s runner-up showing. “The boys have been practicing really hard. They’re competitive. They want to keep improving. I try to motivate them.”

Eliseo Madrigal was Central Valley’s top runner. He placed sixth with a time of 18 minutes, 29 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.

Enoc Reyes (18:34), Diego Gutierrez (18:57), Armando Gutierrez (18:58) and Isaiah Ruiz (19:10) placed seventh, 10th, 11th and 13th, respectively.

Jayden Jaimes led the Bulldogs. He placed 29th (20:39).

Jonathan Estrada Ochoa (30th, 20:49) and Elija Villamarin (43rd, 22:15) rounded out Ceres High’s three-person lineup.

Central Valley’s girls finished fifth in the team standings. The Hawks totaled 119 points.

Beyer (24), Livingston (70), Lathrop (72) and Pacheco (86) took first, second, third and fourth, respectively.

Ceres High didn’t post a team score as it had just one runner compete at the meet.

Karen Magallon led Central Valley. She placed seventh with a time of 22 minutes, 32 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.

Magallon was named one of StanCo Distance’s Runners of the Week.

Hawk teammates Simran Bain (27:23), Camila Urena (28:42), McKenzy Crane (30:01) and Courtney Crane (43:39) placed 22nd, 27th, 30th and 38th, respectively.

Bulldog Fernanda Robles finished 37th (41:19).

WATER POLO

Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s water polo programs had mixed results against Western Athletic Conference competition last week.

Ceres High’s boys water polo team moved to 2-2 in the WAC standings after winning one of two matches.

The Bulldogs rolled to a 21-4 win against visiting Lathrop on Sept. 15.

Ceres High lost 23-11 at Pacheco on Sept. 17.

Ceres High’s girls water polo team dropped to 1-2 in the WAC after losing 16-9 at Pacheco on Sept. 17.

Alana Festa led the Bulldogs with three goals.

Central Valley’s boys water polo team dropped to 0-4 in the WAC after losing 16-6 to Livingston on Sept. 17 in Ceres.

Ari Luman led the Hawks with three goals.

Luman tallied a team-high five goals during Central Valley’s 19-7 loss at Beyer on Sept. 15.

Central Valley’s girls water polo team dropped to 1-3 in league following its 16-12 loss to Livingston on Sept. 17 in Ceres.

Lilyanna Madrigal poured in a game-high 11 goals in defeat.

Central Valley lost 18-7 at Beyer on Sept. 15.

Madrigal led the Hawks with four goals.