It didn’t take long for Anantah “Kai” Sivongxay to ascend to the top spot in the Central Valley boys tennis team’s lineup.

A No. 3 doubles player as a freshman, Sivongxay started at No. 1 singles during his final two seasons with the Hawks.

Sivongxay earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors senior year.

Hawk teammates Avori Ortega, Manny Carranza and Blake Silva were selected to the WAC Second Team this spring.

“It’s good they got recognized by the league,” Central Valley leader Nimrat Chahal said. “They’re all deserving. They had solid years.”

Sivongxay compiled a 2-9 record in WAC play.

“He took a big leap,” Chahal said while talking about Sivongxay’s improvement in the sport since ninth grade. “His tennis IQ got better the more he played. He figured out the importance of playing longer points. His soccer background helped. He’s a really good athlete. He’s fast. He moves well on the court.” 

Sivongxay lost 6-1, 6-1 to top-seeded/eventual-champion Cyriel Dury of Grace Davis in the first round of the conference singles tournament.

Dury, a foreign-exchange student from Belgium, finished WAC play undefeated. He didn’t drop a set all year.

“It was a tough draw,” Chahal said. “He (Sivongxay) went out swinging. He had some really good points.”

Sivongxay started at No. 4 singles as a sophomore before climbing to the top spot in the Hawks’ playing ladder.

A multi-sport athlete, Sivongxay earned first-team all-WAC honors in soccer this past winter.

“Soccer players translate really well in tennis,” Chahal said. “They have good footwork and hand-eye coordination.”

Sivongxay’s play and leadership will be missed next season.

“It’s always hard to lose seniors, especially four-year guys,” Chahal said. “There’s no replacing a kid like that (Sivongxay).”

Ortega, a junior, compiled a 5-6 record in WAC play.

He split playing time at No. 2 and 3 singles.

“Avori had the biggest growth this year as a player,” Chahal said. “He understands what his game is. He plays smart and with strategy. He hits a variety of shots. He has a lot to his game.”

Ortega lost 6-2, 6-3 to fourth-seeded Aram Baltazar of Lathrop in the opening round of the WAC Singles Tournament.

“I thought he played well,” Chahal said. “He played a lot of competitive points. The skill gap was too much.”

“He improved a lot throughout the year,” he added. “Next year, his goal should be to get to the finals. It will depend on his summer if he buys in and wants to practice.”

Carranza, a senior, and Silva, a junior, contributed at all three doubles spots throughout the year.

“We were surprised at how good they were, especially because it was their first year playing,” Chahal said. “They were learning as they were playing together.” 

Newcomers to tennis, Carranza and Silva eventually climbed to the No. 1 doubles slot.

“When they found success early, we moved them up our lineup,” Chahal said. “They were more competitive than a lot of players on the team.”

Carranza and Silva had a combined record of 7-3. 

“They beat everybody except for Davis’ first doubles,” Chahal said. “Manny was a beast at the net. Blake was consistent at the baseline. They had good chemistry. Being teammates in basketball helps. They’re both good athletes.”