The first time the Gilroy High girls tennis team defeated
Hollister at San Benito High the headline read, ‘Shocker’.
GILROY – The first time the Gilroy High girls tennis team defeated Hollister at San Benito High the headline read, ‘Shocker’. When the two Tri-County Athletic League teams met Tuesday, the Lady Mustangs made it a season sweep with their second straight win over the Lady Haybalers.
It was no shocker, though, as Gilroy won by the identical score, 5-2, and proved, at least for this season, that the garlic girls just have their number.
“They’re our rival so we’re excited (to sweep them),” said junior Mindy Marques, whose No. 1 doubles unit with teammate Catherine Wilson won in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. “We work really well together. We have our little techniques and we have fun. We do awesome.”
The Lady Mustang pairs all came out on top as Kayla Aldridge and Amy Thoms defeated Becky Bonner and Mary Beth Miller, 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 2 spot; and Jackie Morales and Tasha LoPorto beat Jill Merrigan and Tiffany Davies, 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 3 position.
“They’re now accustomed to their roles on the team. Everybody feels they are in a position where they can contribute more,” said head coach Chris Yoder, whose watched his squad turn around its season at the midway point.
“I started to get to know the players better and know what they are capable of,” the first-year head coach added. “The most important thing is we’ve fully got the players lined up.”
The Lady Mustang singles line-up split four matches against Hollister with No. 2 Valerie Huang topping Lady Haybaler Danielle Patino and No. 4 Megan Leuchars sealing the match with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) triumph over Crista Hill.
“(Huang) is doing a good job at No. 2. She’s winning more of her matches. She’s more confident,” Yoder said. “(Leuchars) pulled out a pivotal win today. That was the go-ahead win. The clincher.”
At the top singles spot, Gilroy’s Alicia Shurley was overpowered by Hollister’s Elena Briber, 0-6, 1-6, and, at the No. 3 spot, Lady Mustang Dayrel Wilson faltered 5-7, 2-6 to Vanessa Martinez.
