Patriots win sweep of Wolves
WJUSD Superintendent Ortega-Lampkin attends crosstown rivalry match
The Pioneer High School girls varsity tennis team hosted local rival Woodland High School this week for a crosstown Golden Empire League battle.
Woodland Joint Unified School District Superintendent Elodia OrtegaLampkin was in attendance Thursday afternoon to witness the Patriots (6-1, 5-0 GEL) sweep the Wolves (2-3-1) over seven matches.
“(There was) really beautiful tennis today by an outstanding opponent at
every match level! Our ladies learned that to be the best, you have to beat the best, and for now, that is going to have to wait until next time,” Wolves coach Michael Mitchell stated Thursday. “Kudos to Pioneer head coach Marcail McWilliams who obviously has put in the necessary time and drills to have her players at their peak come match time!
“Every player I saw today had the ability to serve, volley, groundstroke and when necessary, lob!”
Pioneer senior Aaliyah Reyna defeated Woodland senior Janet Soto 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 1 seed match. Patriots senior Julissa Bautista beat Wolves senior captain Kylie Mills by identical scores in the second-seed match.
In the No. 3 seed match, Woodland junior Trinity Hutchison was swept by Pioneer senior Madison Findley 6-0, 6-0. Wolves fourth seed, junior Alejandra Vargas, lost by the same scores to Patriots sophomore Marissa Bautista.
“I saw some really great rallies but they always ended with a point for Ms. Bautista,” Mitchell stated.
Woodland senior Kiaya Dennis was shutout 6-0, 6-0 by Pioneer sophomore Siena Huerta in the No. 5 seed match.
With only seven Wolves on Woodland's roster, the team forfeited the No. 6 singles match to allow their final two
players to compete in doubles. Cousins, senior Amalia Lopez and sophomore Alondra Cano, “laughed and giggled” their way through the match despite being on the losing end according to Mitchell.
Patriots sophomores Karla Alfaro and Arielle Chessher defeated Cano and Lopez 6-1, 6-2.
“They both took the match seriously but just had so much fun playing with each other for the very first time,” Mitchell stated. “It was a pleasure
to watch.”
Local tennis enthusiast, Art Williams, invited Lampkin-Ortega to the match and her attendance was appreciated by both teams, Mitchell said.
Pioneer will now hit the road for three straight matches, all beginning at 4 p.m. The first-place Patriots have a quick turnaround before a match at Vacaville on Friday afternoon outside of GEL play. Pioneer will play at Dixon on Tuesday and at Rio Linda on Thursday.
The Wolves will have time to regroup with a bye on Tuesday. Woodland will attempt to rebound from back-to-back losses on