Out at the West Ranch tennis courts, two posters hang on chain-link fences, displaying the schools Foothill League title-winning boys teams from 2014 and 2015.
After the Wildcats’ girls tennis team beat Valencia, 12-6, on Tuesday afternoon at West Ranch,clinching the program’s second straight Foothill League title, coach Dina McBride proudly shared with a group of parents that two similar posters were on the way to honor its up-and-coming girls squad.
“When we started out four years ago, Valencia beat us 17-1,” McBride said. “What a turnaround. This was such a close match — a lot of close sets, a lot of tiebreakers. Our girls just fought and fought, and took nothing lightly.”
Valencia (7-2, Foothill League) had won 12 of the last 14 Foothill League girls tennis titles priorto the Wildcats’ back-to-back run. It’s only two losses in league play this season came to West Ranch.
The Wildcats (9-0) won on the strength of their doubles teams, winning all nine sets. OliviaBloome and Nicole Alvarez (6-1, 6-3, 6-3), Audrey Kim and Emily Andrews (6-4, 7-6, 6-4) and Danielle Hettinger and Chase Eisenberg (6-2, 7-6, 6-3) led the way in a match that nearly finished in darkness.
“Very competitive match on both sides; they almost played until the moon came up,” said Valencia coach Annie Kellogg. “Congrats to West Ranch. We played them closely but they got the better of us today.”
Valencia stayed within range with dominant performances from Amanda Tabanera (3-6, 6-0, 6-0) and Carlotta Nonnis Marzano (1-6, 6-3, 6-0), with both of their set losses coming to Jordyn McBride (6-0, 6-3, 6-1).
“West Ranch (girls tennis) had been losing for a long time but we’re starting to get that momentum going,” said Jordyn McBride. “I think that just makes us closer as a team, which is definitely affecting our play.”
Hart 15, Canyon 3
Like West Ranch, the Indians were carried by stout doubles performances, winning all nine sets. Rachel Nivichanov and Cameron Schwartz lost just three games on the day (6-3, 6-0, 6-0).
Sarah Backer handled things on the singles side for Hart (6-3, 6-3, 6-1). Amanda Yeam was the lone member of Canyon to pick up multiple set wins (7-5, 6-2, 3-6).
Hart (5-4) remains in possession of the third and final Foothill League playoff spot and closes out its season Thursday against Golden Valley.
