Lady Mustang tennis wins sixth straight by slim 4-3 spread over
Salinas
GILROY – The Lady Mustang tennis team quickly learned that the second time around the T-CAL schedule will not be as easy as the first. After cruising past Salinas by a 6-1 margin in their first encounter, the Lady Mustangs needed every bit of energy to take Thursday’s 4-3 decision.
“Four matches left, they have to go out here and battle. They have to play smart. They have to play controlled,” said head coach Jennifer Yoder, whose undefeated squad won its sixth straight league match. “(Salinas) brought its ‘A’ game. They did play well. I saw a lot of improvement. The second time around these girls played much better. We had just a little bit more game than they did.”
The clincher came in the No. 3 doubles bout as the duo of Katie Bloomquist and Tricia Press won a thrilling three-setter, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
“They were pumped. By the tone in their voice and look in their eye, I could tell they were going to win,” Yoder said. “They lost the first time playing against them in two. I think they wanted to win.”
The top doubles tandem of Amy Thomas and Alicia Shurley picked up a win in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. But the No. 2 unit of Jackie Morales and Anna Nguyen lost for the first time this season in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6.
“(Thomas and Shurley) had fire in their eyes. They needed to win,” Yoder said. “(Morales and Nguyen) just didn’t have it today. You’ve got to lose some in order to learn something. They played well. I was still really impressed. They still work well as a team.”
Senior No. 1 Catherine Wilson and junior No. 4 Tasha LoPorto notched the two singles wins for Gilroy – both cruising to 6-1, 6-2 victories.
“Today, (Wilson) was back on her game. Her weapons were working for her. She just had excellent body posture. She was confident. She had the right attitude to win her match,” Yoder said. “(LoPorto) kept her cool and had a positive attitude and that’s what it takes to win.”
Senior No. 2 Valerie Huang suffered a 3-6, 3-6 loss and senior No. 3 Mindy Marquez lost for the first time this season – falling in straight sets 5-7, 3-6.
Up next, the unbeaten Lady Mustangs will play host Oct. 21 to league-foe Hollister at 3:30 p.m.
