Troy topples Vikes

Valencia High falls to Warriors in tight first match of the season

Darkness set in by the time Troy High of Fullerton finally beat Valencia High, 12-6, at Valencia on Monday. But Vikings coach Annie Kellogg could still see clearly enough to point to each of her team’s 5-7 or 4-6 set

losses on the score sheet. There were five. “We just didn’t win some of those close (sets),” Kellogg said. “And that’s what we need to do. But this was our first match, you know, get out some of those first-match jitters. I think everyone feels they can play better.”

Troy arrived late for the

scheduled 3 p.m. start due to traffic, but it was worth the drive for a Warriors team that lost to Valencia, 12-6, in last season’s CIF-Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinals.

“It’s fantastic,” said Troy interim coach Wendie Mahan, whose program has lost in the quarterfinals the last three

seasons. “We lost to them in CIF last season so this is huge to come back and beat them this time.”

Valencia sophomore Amanda Tabanera won two sets — 6-3, 6-3 — but had to retire in her third set due to leg cramps. The Vikings’ singles lineup

(which included Kate Zeile and Jolie Ren) had to deal with a Troy singles lineup identical to last season’s.

The Warriors also return their top doubles team.

Valencia (0-1), however, is without its No. 1 single from the last two seasons, junior Jennifer Shin, who Kellogg said is taking the season off to focus on academics and tournament play.

Gianna Benitez, one of the Vikings’ top doubles players last year, also is no longer playing with the Vikings, Kellogg said.

“So that hurt (not having) both of them,” Kellogg said of Monday’s match.

Valencia’s Ahanti Bommireddipalli and Vasvi Mongia won two doubles sets, 6-1, 6-1. The Vikings doubles won four of eight sets overall. Their singles, though, lost six of eight.

Katharine Lotze/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) Valencia High’s Amanda Tabanera returns a hit to her opponent during the Vikings’ tennis match against Troy High on Monday at Valencia.

Katharine Lotze/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) Left: Valencia High’s No. 3 singles Jolie Ren returns a hit to her opponent during the Vikings match against Troy High on Monday. Right: Valencia High’s Taylor Cohen, right, and doubles partner Nicole Stefani smile after finishing a set against Troy...