GHS girls tennis team’s winning run ends with 6-1 loss to Notre
Dame
SALINAS – The Gilroy High girls tennis team’s seven-match unbeaten streak in the Tri-County Athletic League came to a crashing halt Thursday as host Notre Dame avenged an earlier 4-3 loss with a 6-1 decision.
“All the girls had heart today. They really wanted to win. It just didn’t happen for them,” head coach Jennifer Yoder said. “It was a good match, but I was very disappointed with a couple of players. Their attitudes, concentration and effort was poor today.”
Gilroy and Notre Dame both stand at 7-1 in T-CAL with two matches remaining. If both win out, then they will share the league championship – but Gilroy will get the CCS Playoff spot because Notre Dame has gone the last four seasons.
Senior No. 2 Valerie Huang was the only Lady Mustang to register a ‘W’ – winning in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
“Valerie was the only one who was fired up to play today,” Yoder said. “She played awesome. She played one of the toughest matches she ever played and I’m proud of her for that.”
In the top singles position, senior Catherine Wilson – coming off a knee injury that kept her out of Tuesday’s win over Hollister – faltered in straight sets, 1-6, 4-6.
“She played an awesome match. It was close. All the game scores were close,” said Yoder of Wilson. “Her execution was just not there, but she played well.”
Senior No. 3 Mindy Marquez and junior No. 4 Tasha LoPorto both came up short in three-set affairs.
“(Marquez) had every opportunity to win her match. She just didn’t close out points,” Yoder said. “(LoPorto) really wanted to win. That was her first loss this year. I was very proud of her for coming back in the second set down 1-5 to win 7-5 and push a third set.”
In doubles play, the top tandem of Amy Thomas and Alicia Shurley lost 3-6, 1-6; the No. 2 unit of Jackie Morales and Anna Nguyen faltered in three sets; and the No. 3 duo of Katie Blomquist and Tricia Press fell 3-6, 6-0, 1-6.
“The first time the team had a little bit more fight in them,” said Yoder, whose squad will return to action Oct. 28 against North Salinas and Oct. 30 against Live Oak.
