Teresa Diaz developed into one of the top singles players in the Western Athletic Conference during her three-year career with Central Valley High School's varsity girls tennis team.

"I'm actually pretty proud of myself," she said. "I didn't expect to do as good as I did. I surprised myself because I didn't have as much experience as the other players."

Diaz placed in the top four at the WAC Championships for the second straight season.

She won one of three matches at this year's tournament, staged last Tuesday and Thursday, at Ceres High School.

Diaz lost to two-time WAC-champion Shirley Liu of Los Banos for the second year in a row.

Liu defeated Diaz 6-3, 6-0 in the semifinals this season.

Teresa squandered a 3-2 lead in the first set.

"It was pretty competitive," Diaz said. "I felt like I should have won a set. She (Liu) is very consistent."

Said Hawks head coach Mike Rodriguez: "Teresa made a couple of unforced errors and lost momentum."

Diaz beat El Capitan's Dana Villarama 6-1, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

Teresa topped Livingston's Taranpreet Kaur 2-6, 6-1, 10-4 in the opening round.

Teresa had an 8-7 mark in WAC play while starting at No. 1 singles for the Hawks in 2015.

"I could have done better," she said.

Diaz compiled an 11-5 record in WAC play while splitting time at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles her junior year.

She beat two of four opponents at the conference tournament.

Teresa contributed at No. 6 singles as a freshman.

"I'd put her up there, top three, at least," Rodriguez said when asked where Diaz ranked in Central Valley High School girls tennis history. "When she plays aggressive, she's tough. She can really hit the ball."

"Rodriguez was my P.E. teacher," Diaz said. "He thought I was athletic and could play tennis. He asked me to try out for the team. I didn't know anything. I learned things really quick. I became more aggressive and more competitive. I practiced way more. Tennis is a fun sport. I don't want it to be over."

Central Valley's Claudia Martinez and Jadah Jackson, and Ceres High's Stephanie Garcia and Andria Esho also competed at the 2015 WAC Singles Championships last week.

Martinez lost 6-1, 6-1 to finalist Melanie Silva of Los Banos in the quarterfinals.

Claudia beat Pacheco's Aimee Wheeler in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, during their matchup in the opening round.

Jackson lost 5-7, 6-4, 12-10 to Pacheco's Miranda Arrey.

Garcia lost 6-1, 6-0 to Liu.

Esho lost 6-4, 6-2 to second-seeded Taylor Torongo of Los Banos.