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Six netters earn WAC honors
Becerra, Arce selected to WAC First Team
gianna arce
Central Valleys Gianna Arce was selected to the WAC First Team. Arce, a sophomore, won seven of 10 matches at No. 2 singles. She contributed at No. 5 singles as a freshman. - photo by DALE BUTLER/Courier file photo

Central Valley's and Ceres High's varsity girls tennis programs had a combined six players earned honors during the Western Athletic Conference year-end coaches' meeting this past month in Los Banos.

Central Valley's Guadalupe Becerra and Gianna Arce were both selected to the WAC First Team.

Hawk teammate Sunaina Dhillon, and Ceres High's Vivian Moreno, Camille Vega and Harmen Bahia all garnered second-team all-league recognition.

Becerra, a junior, posted an 8-2 record at No. 1 singles.

Guadalupe won eight of 15 matches while filling the No. 2 spot her sophomore year.

"That's a huge jump," Rodriguez said. "That's pretty impressive. She exceeded my expectations."

Becerra received first-team all-league accolades for the second consecutive season.

"She was pretty consistent all year," Rodriguez said. "She was definitely more confident in herself."

Becerra joined elite company by developing into one of Central Valley's greatest players.

"She ranks up there with Emely Amaya, Teresa Diaz and Claudia Martinez," he said. "She's a step away from being where Emely was."

Arce, a sophomore, won seven of 10 matches at No. 2 singles.

She contributed at No. 5 singles as a freshman.

"A lot of growth," Rodriguez said. "She's a little ahead of what my expectations were. She has a good serve and is consistent. Those are two of her strengths."

Becerra and Arce both advanced to the semifinals of the WAC Singles Championships.

"They'll compete for the top spot in our lineup next season," Rodriguez said. "When you have somebody that's good behind you, you can't slack off and take days off at practice. It pushes you to work harder."

Dhillon, a junior, had a 7-3 mark while starting at No. 4 singles for the second year in a row.

"She improved her understanding of the game," Rodriguez said. "She hit the ball a lot more consistent. She got better every day."

Juniors Moreno and Vega both went 4-6.

Vivian and Camille contributed at No. 1 singles and No. 3 singles, respectively.

Bahia, a senior, won three of 10 matches at No. 2 singles.

Central Valley (6-4) and Ceres High (3-7) placed third and fourth, respectively, in the WAC standings.

The Hawks secured the conference's final playoff spot.

Central Valley beat Ceres High twice by identical 9-0 scores this season.