Central Valley’s girls tennis program defended its Western Athletic Conference title with a perfect 14-0 record this fall under head coach Nimrat Chahal’s guidance.
Chahal and Hawk standout players Aleena Higle, Harkiran Sandhu, Aaliyah Jauregui, Valerie Espinoza, Serath Birring and Roxana Orozco were honored during the WAC’s year-end head coaches’ meeting on Oct. 28 at Johansen High School.
Ceres High’s Tatiana Zamora also garnered special recognition.
“The girls were committed,” said Chahal, whose team has won its last 26 league matches dating back to the 2024 season. “They put in the work. They had fun.”
Chahal was named WAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
He praised his assistant coaches and players.
“It’s a testament to all the work everybody put in,” he said. “If the players don’t buy in and execute, we’re not successful. I’m lucky I have two other coaches (Mike Rodriguez and Grant McCormick) that help develop the girls. All three of us are head coaches. I just get to wear the title.”
Higle, a senior, made history by becoming Central Valley’s first outright league Most Valuable Player in girls tennis.
Emely Amaya was voted the WAC’s co-MVP in 2014.
“Aleena had one of the best seasons in program history,” Chahal said. “She’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached. She’s a leader. She works hard.”
Higle won all 14 of her matches while starring at No. 1 singles during the 2025 WAC regular season.
She posted a 7-5 record as the Hawks’ top player as a junior. She was selected to the WAC First Team.
Higle contributed at No. 3 singles as a sophomore and doubles as a freshman.
“I had a lot of passion for the sport,” Higle stated. “I took it seriously. I tried to set an example for everybody.”
“To be good, you got to do things you don’t want to do at times,” Chahal added. “She didn’t miss any days during the offseason. Not a lot of girls show up to 6 a.m. practice. Aleena was there all the time. She led the group. She was a positive influence.”
Sandhu and Jauregui were selected to the WAC First Team.
Sandhu and Jauregui both had memorable final seasons with the Hawks.
Sandhu, a third-year player, posted a 13-1 record at No. 2 singles.
“I’m very proud of myself at how much I was able to accomplish this season,” Sandhu said. “I definitely surprised myself. I played way better than I thought I would.”
A No. 1 doubles player as a sophomore, Sandhu won all 12 of her league matches while contributing at No. 6 singles as a junior.
“I never played tennis before,” she said. “I didn’t expect to get so far.”
“She’s a hard worker on and off the court,” Chahal added. “She’s very coachable. She’s smart. That’s really important.”
Jauregui, a senior, posted a 10-0 record at No. 3 singles.
She earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior. She won all nine of her matches.
Jauregui started at No. 4 singles sophomore year.
“AJ is one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever coached,” Chahal said.
Espinoza, Birring, Orozco and Zamora were named to the WAC Second Team.
Espinoza, a junior, had an 11-3 record in league play.
She finished 7-3 at No. 4 singles and 3-0 at No. 3 singles.
“I’ve always had high expectations for her (Espinoza),” Chahal said. “She picked up the sport quick. She works hard.”
Birring, a freshman, compiled a 14-0 record at No. 5 singles.
Orozco, a senior, won all 14 of her matches at No. 6 singles.
She was a three-year contributor.
Orozco logged playing time at No. 3 doubles as a junior and sophomore.
Zamora, a freshman, compiled a near-perfect 6-1 record while logging playing time at No. 4 singles.
“She’s an athletic girl,” Bulldogs’ head coach Jesse Apodaca said. “She’s self-motivated. She doesn’t like losing.”
Zamora missed the second half of the WAC season after suffering an injury playing another sport.
“Soccer is her priority,” Apodaca said. “The sky’s the limit for her (in tennis) if she decides to put more time into it. She can be really good. She’s that talented.”
