A third consecutive CIF title was on the horizon for the San Marino High girls’ tennis team as they began their playoff journey in the Division I bracket on Nov. 1.
After defeating Sage Hill in the opening round of their CIF run, the No. 9-seeded Titans faced No. 8 Santa Margarita High on the road with hopes of another quarterfinal berth.
San Marino saw its two-year unbeaten playoff run and bid for third straight CIF title come to an end, falling 11-7 in the CIF second-round matchup on Nov. 3.
Titans No. 2 singles player Katie-Lynn Hoang won two out of her three sets (7-6, 6-1) and San Marino No. 3 singles Carina Yang came away with a 6-2 victory.
Two San Marino doubles teams won a pair of sets in the second-round match. No. 1 pair Kate Chung and Olivia Hsu won two sets, 6-4, 6-2, and No. 3 pair Mia Lin and Selene Yung won their sets 6-4, 6-1.
The Titans advanced to the second round with a 12-6 victory over Sage Hill at home.
In the CIF opener, Hoang swept her side, 6-4, 6-0, 6-0, in singles play, and Yang won two out of three sets, both by scores of 6-3.
The Titans’ No. 1 doubles team Chung and Hsu also swept their opponents, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0. A pair of victories from No. 2 duo Kate Kohn and Audrey Ranabarger (6-3, 6-1) and No. 3 doubles Lin and Yung (6-3, 6-3) propelled the Titans to the first-round victory.
San Marino claimed its first Open Division championship last season with an 11-7 victory over Mater Dei. That title was preceded by a Division I crown the year before when the Titans defeated Rio Hondo League rival La Cañada 10-8.
The Titans capped off their season defending their Rio Hondo League title following another unbeaten run.
Hoang was crowned singles champion at the Rio Hondo League tournament, and Chung and Hsu won the doubles title.
San Marino girls’ tennis players will now set their sights on the CIF Southern Section Individual Championships beginning Monday, Nov. 20. The site for singles and doubles contention will be determined at a later date.
First published in the Nov. 9 issue of the San Marino Tribune
