Central Valley’s varsity girls tennis team is inching closer to securing its fourth playoff berth in five years.

“This is what I expected from them,” head coach Mike Rodriguez said. “They’re an experienced group. They’ve been to the playoffs before. If we win the next two matches, we’re in for sure.”

The top three teams in the Central California Conference advance to the postseason.

Central Valley remained in second place in the CCC standings this past week after securing wins against Livingston and Atwater.

The Hawks improved to 9-2 following Thursday’s 9-0 victory over visiting Livingston.

“We should have won,” Rodriguez said. “We got way more experience. They’re young.”

Guadalupe Becerra defeated Virdiana Cerda (7-6 (7-4), 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.

Gianna Arce defeated Erica Lomeli 6-0, 6-1 in No. 2 singles play.

Sunaina Dhillon defeated Berenice Arias 6-1, 6-0 in No. 3 singles play.

Mixtly Vega defeated Ariana Walker 6-0, 6-1 in No. 4 singles play.

Elisabeth Valdez defeated Migdalya Pacheco 6-3, 6-1 in No. 5 singles play.

Bandha Bhatti defeated Monica Maldonado 6-0, 6-0 in No. 6 singles play.

Daniela Yepez and Virginia Moore defeated Jenny Garcia and Stefanie Ramos 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 doubles play.

Christina Hermenegildo and Lizbeth Martinez defeated Yvette Gutierrez and Diana Rocha 6-2, 6-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Sabina Dhillon and Priscilla Sanchez defeated Emily Molina and Cynthia Garcia 6-3, 6-4 in No. 3 doubles play.

Central Valley cruised past host Atwater, 7-2, on Oct. 2

“It was a solid performance,” Rodriguez said. “Atwater has had some quality wins. They beat Golden Valley twice and played Merced tough.”

Yepez and Moore bested Isabel Escobedo and Stephanie Anguiano 6-1, 6-3 in No. 1 doubles play.

Hermenegildo and Martinez bested Megan Brock and Mayra Alvarez 6-1, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles play.

Sanchez and Sabina Dhillon bested Teresa Cavallero and Clarissa Orozco 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 in No. 3 doubles play.

Becerra bested Anessa Cardenas 6-4, 6-4 in No. 1 singles play.

Sunaina Dhillon bested Allison Warnock 6-1, 6-1 in No. 3 singles play.

Vega bested Citlali Haro 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in No. 4 singles play.

Valdez bested Marissa Orozco 6-0, 6-2 in No. 5 singles play.

Arce lost 6-3, 7-6 (4) to Alondra Celis in No. 2 singles play.

Bhatti lost 6-4, 6-2 to Jacky Molina in No. 6 singles play.

The Hawks’ final three opponents are Golden Valley, Merced and Patterson. 

Barring a major collapse, Central Valley should qualify for the postseason.

El Capitan (8-1) appears headed to securing the CCC’s top seed for playoffs.

The Hawks lost twice (5-4, 6-3) to the Gauchos this season.

“We’re having a solid year, too,” Rodriguez said.