In a very similar set of circumstances to the first matchup this
season, the San Benito girls tennis team was able to pull off a 6-1
victory over Gilroy on Thursday.
Hollister – In a very similar set of circumstances to the first matchup this season, the San Benito girls tennis team was able to pull off a 6-1 victory over Gilroy on Thursday.
The two teams met Sept. 18 with the score going in favor of the Lady ‘Balers 5-2.
San Benito swept all of the singles matches and the top two doubles pairings, dropping only the No. 3 doubles game.
GHS’ No. 4 singles player Gories Kwong lost a heartbreaker in the closest contest of the day, being edged by Abby Woods in a 10-7 tiebreaker after splitting sets 1-6, 6-2.
“If we would have won just a few more of the critical points tonight the score would have been much different,” GHS coach Jami Reynolds said.
Emily Castro, the Mustangs’ No. 3 singles player, had her chances to take both sets over Kaitlyn O’Keefe but fell just short, losing 6-4, 7-5.
“It was a pretty close match,” San Benito coach Ed Cecena said. “That one could have gone either way. Kaitlyn put enough pressure on her opponent to create some errors.”
The ever-present bright spot this season for Gilroy has been the play of No. 3 doubles pair Anneliese Zelina and Melanie Morelos, who remained undefeated on the year by beating Bri Ahumada-Wolfsmith and Lauren Ademek 6-4, 7-5.
Cecena, whose team is 12-0 on the season, made a point of giving credit to a Mustang squad that has shown dramatic improvement under Reynolds, who is in her first year as coach.
“Gilroy has improved a lot too,” he said. “I made that comment to several people. Gilroy managed to hang in there and push some of my players and challenge them.”
Gilroy’s next match will be played Tuesday at home against Alvarez.
Gilroy player(s) – result – San Benito player(s)
#1 Singles Mischelle Tajan lost to Amanda Marshall 5-7, 5-7
#2 Singles Amy Huang lost to Yumi Chang 2-6, 3-6
#3 Singles Emily Castro lost to Kaitlyn O’Keefe 4-6, 5-7
#4 Singles Gories Kwong lost to Abby Woods 1-6, 6-2 (7-10)
#1 Doubles Karissa Tellez and Holly Hunter lost to Rachel Maheu and Elena Fata 5-7, 4-6.
#2 Doubles Natalie Toews and Kimberly Johnson lost to Crystal Perreira and Marisa Ibarra 6-7, 3-6
#3 Doubles Anneliese Zelina and Melanie Morelos beat Bri Ahumada-Wolfsmith and Lauren Ademek 6-4, 7-5
