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League honors for Ceres High varsity girls tennis team
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Ceres High School's varsity girls tennis team managed to place third in the Western Athletic Conference this year despite competing with a young and inexperienced lineup.

Eight of the Bulldogs' 12 starters were recognized in a vote by the league's coaches on Oct. 26 at Pacheco High School.

"I'm very happy with what the girls did this year," Ceres High head coach Bryan Harden said. "They all progressed at different levels."

Marifer Ochoa and Los Banos' Alexis Barcellos shared the Most Valuable Player award.

Former Bulldog McKenzy Harden was named MVP of the Valley Oak League from 2007-09.

"It's nice to keep the tradition going," Bryan Harden said. "It means we're doing something right."

Ochoa, a freshman, compiled an 11-1 record while starring at No. 1 singles.

She reeled off nine straight wins after losing 6-1. 6-4 to Barcellos.

Marifer defeated Alexis in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, during their second meeting.

Kaylee Donovan, Kelly Gallagher, Kaycee Creek, Ashton Frampton, Kassandra Carrillo, Myranda Price and Viridiana Arroyo earned second-team, all-league honors.

Donovan, a freshman, and Creek, a junior, posted identical records of 8-4.

Kaylee and Kaycee played No. 2 and 4 singles, respectively.

Gallagher, a senior, won seven of 11 matches at No. 3 singles.

Price and Arroyo won 8 of 12 matches while teaming up at No. 2 doubles.

Frampton and Carrillo, Ceres High's No. 1 doubles team, posted a 4-2 record.

Kassandra also played singles part of the season. She won four of six matches.

The Bulldogs (8-4) finished behind Los Banos and Central Catholic in the WAC standings. The top three teams advanced to the postseason.

"I feel very fortunate to have finished as high as we did," said Harden, whose team qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the fourth year in a row. "The girls worked hard."

Central Valley senior Lizette Covarrubias was named to the WAC second team.

She filled the No. 1 singles spot in the lineup nine times. Her overall record was 7-5.

"She competed at a high level," Central Valley head coach Mike Rodriguez said.