Thanks to Maranatha for this report
Girls Tennis:
While it was still mathematically possible for Maranatha to compete for the Olympic League title, entering today’s match, the possibility was remote.
Geffen had finished their first round of league play with resounding, 17-1, 18-0, 17-1 victories over the rest of the league, including Maranatha (17-1).
The goal for the Lady Minutemen today was to chip away at the gap and to be more competitive.
Goal achieved.
The biggest step forward came from #1 doubles, Amanda Yee/Kasey McCoy.
Winless in their previous outing with the Bruins, Yee/McCoy started off shaky, losing their first set, 1-6.
They knew they could play better, and resolved to do so going forward, winning their final two sets, 6-3, 6-2, playing their best tennis of the season and continuing to show growing synergy.
#1 singles, Stella Hsieh, showed she belonged in the conversation for the league’s top player by going toe-to-toe with current league #1, Jenelle Liu.
Hsieh dug herself into a hole early by going down 0-3 (losing a 40-0 lead on her serve in the opening game).
They split the next four games, leaving Hsieh down 2-5.
With her back to the wall, Hsieh showed steely resolve to win the next two games and climb back to 4-5.
The final game was a slugfest before Liu prevailed, winning 6-4, in a set that lasted over an hour. Hsieh went on to win her next two sets, 6-0, 6-2.
#2 singles, Audrey Loh, had a rough start to the day, unable to find an answer to the Bruins’ relentlessly consistent play.
Loh was consistent herself, but came up one ball short in most long rallies.
After losing her first two sets, 1-6, 1-6, she was able to find a nice balance of consistency and power and won her final set, 6-1.
#3 singles, Violet Salvo, gained valuable experience in her 0-6, 3-6, 1-6 losses, as did #2 doubles, Riley McCoy/Stella Chen (1-6, 1-6, 1-6) and #3 doubles, Esmee Eaton/Helena Chen (0-6, 1-6, 1-6)
The chasm between the two teams is still wide, but the Lady Minutemen are playing their best tennis of the season and hope to continue their improvement, in hopes they may be able to reach the second week of the nation’s largest high school team tennis tournament, the CIF-SS playoffs.
Up next: The Lady Minutemen (6-5, 3-2) will travel to Heritage Christian on Tuesday.
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