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Hawks still hungry
CV girls tennis team striving for more success
jadah.tiff
Senior Jadah Jackson will play No. 2 singles for the Hawks this year. Jackson was a major contributor as well last season. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Central Valley's varsity girls tennis team reached new heights last fall.

The Hawks qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time in school history.

"It would be nice to get back there again and keep the program going in the right direction," Central Valley head coach Mike Rodriguez said.

The Hawks will rely on a mix of veteran players and several newcomers this season.

Teresa Diaz (Sr.), Jadah Jackson (Sr.), Celest Lepe (Sr.), Chelsea Flores (Sr.), Vanessa Monroy (Sr.) and Amy Nguyen (Sr.) are returners.

Diaz was selected to the Western Athletic Conference First Team her junior year.

She compiled a 9-3 record while splitting playing time at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles.

Teresa upset two No. 1 singles players while placing fourth at the WAC championships.

Nicole Munoz (Sr.), Bryana Lopez (Sr.) and Claudia Martinez (Jr.) are new to the team.

Munoz is a first-year player.

Martinez competed for the Hawks her freshman year. She played volleyball last season.

Lopez, formerly of Ceres High, did not play last season.
She was a member of the Bulldogs' tennis squad during the 2013-14 school year.

Central Valley lost five players to graduation, including Emely Amaya, Naomi Torres, Princess Pe, Sorrayar Sounthala and Samantha Sotomayor.

Amaya was voted 2014 Western Athletic Conference co-MVP.

"We're not as deep as last year's team," Rodriguez said. "That's been our strength the last couple of years. But I think we'll be competitive."

The Hawks posted a 10-2 record on their way to a runner-up finish in the WAC standings a season ago.

Los Banos won the WAC title with a perfect 12-0 mark.

Crosstown-rival Ceres High (8-4), Livingston (6-6), El Capitan (3-9), Patterson (2-10) and Pacheco (1-11) placed third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

"The league is going to be tough," Rodriguez said. "Playoffs are a realistic goal. I expect us to be in the mix competing for that final spot. Some of the new girls will have to step up."

The Hawks have won their last three meetings versus the Bulldogs.

Central Valley beat Ceres High twice by identical 5-4 scores this past season.

Central Valley has an all-time record of 3-15 against Ceres High.

"Bryan Harden's a good coach," Rodriguez said. "He'll get the most out of his girls. They'll be tough. The matches always seem to be competitive."