MHS girls tennis open EYL with win
The reigning East Yosemite League girls tennis champion Marauders of Monache High School picked up right where they left off with a 9-0 sweep of Tulare Union at home to begin the regular season on Monday afternoon.
The reigning East Yosemite League girls tennis champion Marauders of Monache High School picked up right where they left off with a 9-0 sweep of Tulare Union at home to begin the regular season on Monday afternoon.
Monache (6-4, 1-0 EYL) swept the singles portion without dropping a single set to go up 6-0 and win the match early.
“You can’t argue with a good start,” MHS head coach Gary Perez said with a smile.
Looking stronger and faster than her opponent, Tulare Union’s Jaci Maze, a focused Maddie Giannetto won the No. 1 match 6-0, 6-2. Last season Giannetto was the EYL and Central Area singles champion, and the 15th seed at Valley.
Monache’s No. 2 Raquel Calo and No. 4 Alyssa Ragasa made quick work of their opponents to win their matches. Calo defeated TU’S Kaitlin Limas 6-0, 6-1 and Ragasa took down Kylie Maness (6-0, 6-1).
“I think they played really well,” Perez said. They were picking their spots, I thought they constructed their points real well.”
Playing in a competitive tournament over the weekend with her team in which she went undefeated, the Marauders’ No. 4 Zannah Castaneda took some time adjusting to a slower paced opponent.
Facing TU’S Clarissa Nunez, Castaneda and Nunez traded wins before Castaneda finally won the first set 6-4. In the second set, Castaneda won easily 6-0.
“After this weekend she was looking for more pace and she wasn’t getting that in the first,” Perez said. “A little tired from the [long] weekend — like I said she went 5-0 over the weekend. She settled down and adjusted to the lack of pace and came back and won the second set 6-0. So she was pretty well in charge of the second set.”
In the No. 5 match MHS’ Keyla Cantu defeated TU’S Thalia Lopez 6-1, 6-2 while No. 6 Danielle Borromeo beat Felicity Willis 6-1, 6-0.
Monache dominated the doubles with No. 2 Calo and Ragasa winning their set 8-1 followed by Reynah Leal and Abigail Sotelo winning the No. 3 match 8-2. Giannetto and Castaneda won the No. 1 match 8-5.
Perez said he was pleased with the outcome especially considering the short break between the weekend tournament, but that the team still had some things to work on.
“We still have some work to do,” he said. “But coming off the tournament, I really like where we’re at. I think we’re in a good spot and in a real good position to get better, and I think we will.”
Monache travels to Mission Oak today for a 4 p.m. EYL match.