Prep Roundup: Oct. 2

Gilroy came up just shy in the battle of the Mustangs girls tennis contest Thursday against Monte Vista Christian at home. The hometown squad lost 4-3.
The No.1 doubles team of Nicole Holder and Savanna Brandon remain undefeated, beating their MVC counterparts 7-5, 6-2. Maggie Pickford and Mya Esquivel, the No. 2 team, also notched a victory and won 6-2, 7-6. 
Catherine Bell recorded the lone singles win in the No. 4 spot. She topped her MVC opponent by a score of 6-3, 6-0, which left her smiling from ear to ear. 
No.1 singles player Brea Martin had a tall order to fill as she squared off against MVC’s No.1, who is nationally ranked in China. Martin lost 6-0, 6-0. 
Didi Bakita, Gilroy’s No.2, also lost her match 6-1, 6-1. Angela Martin fell 6-4, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. 
Finally, the No. 3 team of Sofia Magana and Daniela Castillo also dropped their match 7-6, 6-3. 
The Mustangs will be back in action at 4 p.m. Tuesday against Monterey at home.
Cougars fall to Balers
Christopher squared off with San Benito and lost 5-2 Thursday, but ran into trouble before it even arrived at Ridgemark Tennis Club. 
The Cougars’ No. 2 singles player missed the transportation to the match, so the team had to make some adjustments to fill out the lineup. Nonetheless, the Cougars rose to the challenge to make things interesting for San Benito. 
Christopher’s No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams both won their matches. The No. 2 team of Nikki Chen and Cher Choi won their first set 6-2, before losing the second 6-4 at the hands of Vivian Hernandez and Saira Zapien. The Cougars secured the win in the tiebreaker set 10-7. 
The No.3 team of Camryn Crowley and Sara Blawski topped Allison Okamoto and Jessica Parga in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
The Balers swept the singles matches. Kelly Nantais was pulled from her normal spot on the No. 1 doubles team to fill in at No. 4 singles and lost 6-2, 7-5 to the Balers’ Heidi Bribiesca. 
“She did well in spite of the change,” Cougar coach Patrick McBrearty said.
No. 1 singles player Sydney Tran lost 6-3, 6-4 to Jessica Kirschmann, while No. 2 Niet Khay fell 6-1, 6-2 to Megan Hurley of San Benito. Malia Campos also lost 6-2, 6-1. 
The Cougars will be back on the courts at 4 p.m. Tuesday to host Alvarez. 
VOLLEYBALL
Mustangs drop nail bitter at Pajaro Valley
Gilroy took Pajaro Valley to the wire Thursday, but came up just short as they lost 3-2 on the road.
The Mustangs dropped the first two sets 25-22, 26-24 but won the next two 25-16, 27-25 to force a Set 5. Unfortunately for Gilroy, they lost 15-12. 
Stats were not yet available. 
The Mustangs (1-4 overall, 0-4 in league) will be back in action at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Alisal. 
GIRLS WATER POLO
Mustangs fall to Carmel, Stevenson
Erica Cates scored three goals against Carmel Thursday, but it just wasn’t enough to lift the Mustangs past the Padres. Gilroy lost 12-4 on the road. 
Cates also had an assist and took a team-high 11 shots. 
Gilroy also lost to Stevenson, 17-6, on Tuesday on the road. Cates also scored three goals on four shots in that game. Rachel Carnell and Lexi Pino also added a goal a piece for Gilroy. 
Stevenson notched four goals in the first quarter and three in the second to lead Gilroy 7-3 at halftime. The Mustangs hung tough in the third with three goals to Stevenson’s four, but were held scoreless in the final frame. 
Gilroy will be back in the water at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Harbor. 
CHRISTOPHER
10.2—Football vs. Palma, league opener, 7:30 p.m.

GILROY
10.2—Field hockey at Saratoga, 7 p.m.
10.3—Football vs. Watsonville, 2 p.m. at Christopher High