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CV moves into tie for third place with CHS in WAC girls tennis
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Mixtly Vega and Central Valleys varsity girls tennis team will compete against crosstown-rival Ceres High this Thursday. The Hawks and Bulldogs will battle for the WACs third playoff spot. - photo by DALE BUTLER/Courier photo

Central Valley's varsity girls tennis team beat Pacheco and lost to Los Banos in Western Athletic Conference play last week.

The Hawks edged the Panthers 5-4 on Thursday in Ceres to remain in the hunt for their third consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section postseason berth.

"I wasn't really thinking about playoffs at the beginning of the year," Central Valley head coach Mike Rodriguez said. "We started 1-4. Our record has been better the last two rounds. It's nice to be in a positon with a brand-new team to have a chance to get in still."

Central Valley posted a 2-1 record against Pacheco this year.

The Hawks lost 5-4 to the Panthers on Sept. 8.

Central Valley exacted revenge with a 9-0 victory over shorthanded Pacheco on Sept. 27.

The Hawks won the third matchup thanks in large part to the play of their No. 1 and 2 doubles teams.

Abigail Martinez and Daniela Yepez earned the match-clinching point by defeating Selena Salinas and Chelsea Cano 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 in No. 1 doubles play.

"They work really well together," Rodriguez said. "They don't seem to be bothered by pressure."

Yesinia Bernal-Lareos and Elisabeth Valdez defeated Janette Salinas and Carmen Hernandez 6-0, 6-2 in No. 2 doubles play.

Jocelyn Rodriguez and Nayeli Castellanos lost 4-6, 9-7, 10-4 to Vanessa Gonzalez and Daniela Mendoza in No. 3 doubles play.

Central Valley and Pacheco split the six singles matches
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Lupita Becerra defeated Aimee Wheeler 6-4, 6-3 in No. 2 singles play.

Sue Dhillon defeated Frances Jacobo 6-3, 7-5 in No. 4 singles play.

Gianna Arce defeated Esmeralda Ramirez 7-5, 6-4 in No. 5 singles play.

Claudia Martinez lost 6-4, 6-4 to Miranda Arrey in No. 1 singles play.

Adrianna Escobedo lost 6-1, 6-2 to Maria Moreno in No. 3 singles play.

Mixtly Vega lost 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to Marilyn Sanchez in No. 6 singles play.

Central Valley lost 6-3 to WAC-powerhouse Los Banos on Oct. 11 in Ceres.

The Tigers topped the Bulldogs 8-1 and 9-0 earlier this season.

"The hardest part about playing a team like that is keeping your team from being mentally beat before the match," Mike Rodriguez said. "They haven't lost a league match for a while."

Yepez and Abigail Martinez defeated Los Banos' Brooklyn Garcia and Zoe Seabock 6-2, 6-1 in No. 1 doubles play.

Bernal-Lareos and Valdez defeated Trinity Meza and Corie Falaschi 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 in No. 2 doubles play.

Castellanos and Rodriguez defeated Taylor Giampietro and Bridget Lopez 6-4, 6-2 in No. 3 doubles play.

"We swept the doubles," coach Rodriguez said. "Their aggressiveness is what really helped them out."

Central Valley (6-7) moved into a tie for third place with crosstown-rival Ceres High in the WAC standings.

The Hawks and Bulldogs will battle for the conference's final postseason berth at Ceres High this Thursday at 3 p.m.

Central Valley won the first two meetings by identical 5-4 scores.

"We just have to win," Mike Rodriguez said. "We'll treat it like any other match. The girls know what's at stake."