|
|
Monta Vista are the NorCal High School Champions!
|
Defending champion Saratoga returned to the Northern California team tennis finals by snapping the 27-match winning streak of Tamalpias-Mill Valley in the semifinal round.
To repeat as CIF-USTA NorCal champs, though, the Falcons needed to end another 27-match victory string. But that one belonged to archrival Monta Vista, which had defeated Saratoga in three previous meetings, including two 4-3 decisions in league play and an even tighter Central Coast Section title match three days earlier.
Saratoga almost made the fourth time a charm Nov. 19 at Sacramento's Natomas Racquet Club, but Monta Vista sophomore Sabrina Mui and freshman Angella Qian survived a serious final set scare at No. 2 doubles and the Matadors once again went home smiling.
"Amazing!" said Monta Vista coach Gene Fortino, after his players earned first-place trophies with yet another 4-3 victory over the Falcons. "To beat a team four times, when that team is so even with you, is hard to do. We were fortunate to win them all."
The Monta Vista High School tennis team includes Wendi Kong, Jody Law, Aiswarya Sankar, Shwetha Bharadwaj, Ruri Kobayakawa, Kelsey Chong, Angella Qian, Nicole Stomakhin, Sabrina Mui, Chaire Chin, Tiffany Lian, Tiffany Wang, Katherine Guo, Suruchi Salgar, Nitisha Mehta and Winifred Tung.
Monta Vista (28-0) capped its undefeated campaign with three wins in the 10-team, two-day tournament, earning its second NorCal title in three seasons and sixth overall since the event's inception in 1998. Saratoga finished the season with a 21-5 record, including four losses to the Matadors.
"We had four very tough matches with Monta Vista this season, with the difference being a little more depth in their doubles," said Saratoga coach Tom Uyehara.
The NorCal title match, featuring Monta Vista and Saratoga for the third straight year, developed the same way that the two Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division battles did this fall. The girls tennis juggernauts split the four singles matches, but the Matadors won two of the three doubles contests to earn 4-3 decisions.
Saratoga won the top two singles bouts, as senior ace Crystal Yen defeated junior Wendi Kong in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 and Falcons sophomore Kalyani Narayan claimed a three-set victory over junior Jody Law, 6-0, 3-6, 6-0. In a battle of freshmen at No. 3, Aiswarya Sankar of Monta Vista topped Smita Sabada 6-0, 6-3. Sophomore Shwetha Bharadwaj scored a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 4 over Saratoga senior Lisa Asai.
Monta Vista sophomore Kelsey Chong combined with junior Ruri Kobayakawa to take the No. 1 doubles match from senior Sarah Lum and junior Nikki Bedekar of Saratoga 6-2, 6-3. Meanwhile, Saratoga picked up a doubles win at No. 3 with senior Tiffany Tu and junior Evaline Ju topping senior Claire Chin and freshman Nicole Stomakhin 6-2, 6-4.
In the match that nearly changed their team's 2011 fortunes against Monta Vista, Saratoga junior Cori Posadas and freshman teammate Arathi Sabada were two points away from victory at No. 2 doubles. They led the decisive third set 5-4 in games and were serving with a 30-love lead, before Mui and Qian turned the tables and pulled out a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory.
"All four of the matches could have gone either way," said Fortino about the Saratoga rivalry. "We were real fortunate."
Monta Vista reached its fourth meeting with Saratoga by beating Northern Section champion Chico 7-0 and Sac Joaquin Division I winner St. Francis-Sacramento 6-1.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCORECARD:
Monta Vista (MV) 4 matches won defeated Saratoga (S) 3 matches won
#1 Single: Crystal Yen (S) won Wendi Kong (MV) – 6-1, 6-3
#2 Single: Kalyani Narayan (S) won Jody Law (MV) – 6-0, 3-6, 6-0
#3 Single: Aiswarya Sankar (MV) won Smita Sabada (S) – 6-0, 6-3
$4 Single: Shwetha Bharadwaj (MV) won Lisa Asai (S) – 6-3, 6-4
#1 Doubles: Kelsey Chong/Ruri Kobayakawa (MV) won Sarah Lum/Nikki Bedekar (S) - 6-2, 6-3
#2 Doubles: Sabrina Mui/Angella Qian (MV) won Cori Posadas (S) - 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
#3 Doubles: Evaline Ju/Tiffany Tu (S) won Claire Chin/Nicole Stomakhin (MV) - 6-2, 6-4
Monta Vista High School defeated the Saratoga High School, 4-3, in the Championship match.
Each team played four singles matches and three doubles matches.