 | | | Photos Andy Scheck
| | | | | | The high school girls' tennis season kicked off earlier this month with back-to-back rivalry matches. All three Lamorinda schools played each other in the first two weeks of DFAL competition.
Campolindo defeated host Acalanes, 7-2, in the season opener on September 11 and then took on Miramonte two days later. The Mats took down the defending DFAL champions, 6-3. The Mats next took on Acalanes on September 18, defeating the Dons, 6-3.
Miramonte is undefeated in league play at 3-0 (8-3 overall). Campo is 2-1 and Acalanes' league record stands at 1-3 (as of September 18).
Campo treated spectators to terrific competition against Miramonte on September 13. Miramonte coach Michael McCollom was happy with the 6-3 final result. "Everyone on both teams played very well and competed beautifully. We just have a little more depth on the doubles ladder right now."
The #5 singles match was the most competitive match of the day. Campo senior Amanda Lemelin and Miramonte senior and captain, Leah See, split two hard-fought sets. In lieu of a third set, a super tie-breaker decided the match. In a battle that could have gone either way, See emerged victorious, 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.
By the end of singles play, Miramonte and Campo were dead even, 3-3, but Miramonte showed their depth in the doubles.
The #2 doubles proved to be an exciting match-up. Miramonte junior Kady Richardson and sophomore Cece Andrews battled Campo junior Tori Kallerud and senior Natalie Li. With their tenacity and fantastic angles, Richardson and Andrews found their stride in the second set and took the match, 7-6, 6-0.
Not without challenge, the Lady Mats swept all three doubles matches and finished the day with a 6-3 win over their cross-town rivals.
One of Campo's coaches, Sunun Faulkner, recognizes their weakness. "The main thing that we need to work on is to get our doubles pairs figured out." Since Campo graduated eleven seniors last year, including five from the starting line-up, their lineup is still undergoing some early season shuffling.
"I know that [Campo coaches] will have their team ready for the next match at Miramonte," McCollom predicted.
In Lafayette Acalanes' team has seen steady improvement with the addition of new talent and new head coach, Brent Bird. The team is especially strong at the top of the singles ladder with sophomore Isabel Von Ebbe leading the way in the #1 spot. Junior Tessa Karogocev follows as the #2 player and senior captain Ida Barbari is strong in third position.
Bird was pleased with the outcome of their match against Miramonte. Von Ebbe edged out Miramonte's Taylor James. Three of the matches split sets, forcing the third set super tie-breaker. Acalanes lost all three of the tie-break matches, but showed strong competition. "We're going to end up just behind the top teams," Bird explained, saying they will continue to improve. "We're definitely catching up with them."
All three Lamorinda teams face off again in October.
Match results from September 13 - Miramonte at Campolindo
Singles
Taylor James (M) def. Sydney Stone (C); 6-0, 6-3
Jen Stanten (M) def. Miranda Hill (C); 6-3, 6-4
Mette Huberts (C) def. Anjali Majumdar (M); 6-4, 6-4
Claire Faulkner (C) def. Haley Stanten (M); 6-4, 6-3
Leah See (M) def. Amanda Lemelin (C); 7-5, 4-6, 10-8
Hannah Ross (C) def. Bridget Immel (M); 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
Holly Bohuslav/Merrick Goodman (M) def. Molly Pines/Tori Perrella (C); 6-2, 6-3
Kady Richardson/Cece Andrews (M) def. Tori Kallerud/Natalie Li (C); 7-6, 6-0
Maddie Geary/Georgia Briskey (M) def. Grace Roberts/Silvana Moiceanu (C); 6-1, 6-3
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA