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Harden coaching CHS girls tennis again
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Dominique Koeurn (pictured left) and Andria Esho will fill key roles on Ceres Highs varsity girls tennis team this fall. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Bryan Harden will serve as head coach of Ceres High School's varsity girls tennis team this fall.

Harden returns to the Bulldogs following a two-year break from the sport.

Ceres High compiled a 13-11 record in Western Athletic Conference play and participated in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs once under Jack Jacques' guidance.

Harden inherits a program hit hard by graduation.

The Bulldogs are moving forward without key players Angelica Slater, Gabriella Blandino, Bianca DeAnda, Janet Jimenez, Juliana Rosas, Justine Vega, Jolyce Vega and Geneba Revuelta.

"Honestly, I don't know what to expect this year," Harden said. "We're so inexperienced."

Ceres High's top returners are Dominique Koeurn (Jr.), Andria Esho (Jr.), Stephanie Garcia (Sr.), Chelsea Heras (Sr.), Jalani Blankenship (Sr.) and Sabrina Yang (Jr.).

The Bulldogs' top newcomers are Azia Brewster (Jr.), Camille Vega (Fr.) and Shania Evans (Fr.).

"For me, it's basically like starting over," Harden said. "Sometimes the effort alone can make up for the lack of experience. I definitely got some fighters out there. I just don't know where we stand because I don't know what the other teams have."

Ceres High qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoffs last season.

The Bulldogs compiled an 8-4 record en route to a third-place showing in the Western Athletic Conference standings.

Los Banos (12-0) claimed the conference title.

Central Valley (10-2) took second.

Livingston (6-6), El Capitan (3-9), Patterson (2-10) and Pacheco (1-11) finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

The top three teams in the WAC advance to the postseason.
"That's always my goal," Harden said. "I don't care what team I have. You got to have something to reach for."

Ceres High dropped a pair of 5-4 decisions to crosstown-rival Central Valley in 2014.

The Hawks improved their all-time record versus the Bulldogs to 3-15.

"I don't know what they have and how strong their players are," Harden said. "I definitely think we'll battle them. Maybe we have enough to get by. Maybe we get crushed. I'm not going to let my kids give up."