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Injured tennis player leads Ceres past Johansen
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Amanda Guajardo didn't want to let her coach and teammates down.

Slowed by injuries sustained in an automobile accident, Guajardo defeated Nikole Mackenzie 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in No. 1 singles play in leading the Ceres High girls tennis team to a 4-1 victory over the Johansen Vikings in Modesto on Thursday.

"To me, what she did was heroic," said Ceres coach Bryan Harden.

Guajardo totaled her 2000 Jeep Cherokee while driving home from a Hughson High football game on Sept. 24. She was heading westbound on Whitmore Avenue when she swerved off the road to avoid hitting another vehicle, smashed into a telephone and skidded 20 yards.

Guajardo banged up her right knee, chest and face.

She was on crutches for three days.

"She's lucky she's alive," Harden said.

Ceres improved to 3-4 in the Modesto Metro Conference, 5-4 overall.

Johansen fell to 2-5 in the league standings.

The Vikings edged the Bulldogs 3-2 on Sept. 14.

"We were better prepared for them today and the girls played terrific tennis," Harden said.

Ceres won all three singles and one of two doubles matches.

Ashlee Moring defeated Leslie Hermann 6-1, 6-0 in No. 2 singles play.

"Ashlee kicked her butt," Harden said.

Logan Harden defeated Shalita Willis 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in No. 3 singles play. Harden lost in three sets to Willis during their first meeting.

"She played better tennis this time," Bryan said.

Haylee Adrian and Kamie Machado defeated Jessica Barrientos and Katelyn Wheeler 6-4, 7-5 in No. 2 doubles play.

"That was a pretty close match," Harden said.

Melissa Gonzales and Ramina Amino lost 6-1, 6-2 to Cassie Huynh and Jennifer Ramirez in No. 1 doubles play.

"They played well and we didn't," Harden said. "We got to get better and start working harder."

Modesto 5, Ceres 0

The Bulldogs didn't win a single set during their 5-0 loss to the Panthers at Modesto High School on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Ceres dropped all three singles and both doubles matches.

Katie Eng defeated Moring 6-0, 6-1 in No. 1 singles play.

Alyssa Lee defeated Harden 6-1, 6-2 in No. 2 singles play.

Lexy Harrington defeated Gonzales 6-0, 6-1 in No. 3 singles play.

In No. 1 doubles play, Julia Solomon and Sarah Lowe defeated Amino and Karolina Munzova 6-1, 6-2. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier