Battling triple-digit heat and a championship-quality opponent, San Marino High School’s girl’s varsity tennis team shook off some first-match jitters to top Valencia on Monday afternoon by a final score of 10-8 in the Lady Titans’ season opener.
Sophomore Anessa Lee led the charge from her position at first singles, dispatching Amanda Tabanera, Carlotta Mazano and Jennifer Shin by scores of 6-1, 6-2 and 6-0.
San Marino’s first doubles team of Sophia Lee & Sabrina Lieu also swept their opponents 6-3, 6-0 and 6-0 to provide a cushion for the remainder of the roster. The doubles duos of Kayla Chen & Rakel Ang and Caitlin Nguyen & Dahlys Ang finished with two wins apiece to secure the win. Senior Libby Chang and sophomore Katie Kirkendall rounded out the singles roster.
The match, played at San Marino High School, was scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., but was postponed until 4:30 p.m. when temperature dropped below 100º according to Nick Sale of the Titan athletic department.
The Lady Titans won 69 games to 62 for the Vikings.
“Anessa played very well,” said Bryce Pereira, a 2017 graduate of San Marino High School who along with Antoine Saba is filling in for head Coach Melwin Pereira, who is recovering from knee surgery. “Valencia’s singles are very strong.”
Bryce Pereira also touted San Marino’s doubles pairings.
“Once they settled down, I thought our doubles played well,” he said. “We swept the first round of doubles and that gave them a lot of confidence. That really set the tone for the next two rounds. They really stepped it up.”
The Lady Titans host Murietta Valley High School on Wednesday, September 13 at 3:15 p.m. Weather permitting, of course.
Lady Titans Roast Valencia In Opener
Doubles Deliver As San Marino Posts 10-8 Win
