Cate claimed the top two singles positions in TVL Individuals, while all six Cate players in the tournament achieved first-team all-league honors.
Singles Play
It was a battle between two undefeated Cate players for the Tri-Valley League Singles Title. Alyna Takahashi came in as the #1 seed, boasting a 16-0 league record. The senior was looking to go one step farther after finishing runner-up in last year’s tournament. It was not to be though, as freshman Lisa Hasebe (now 21-0 in league singles play) brought her highest level to the all-Cate final.
Hasebe jumped to a 3-0 lead early, although the points themselves were anything but uneven. Both players went deep into the rallies, pushing each other from corner to corner and probing for weak points. Takahashi regrouped after the tough start, eventually turning the first set to her advantage when she took a 5-4 lead with multiple stinging blows crosscourt from the forehand side to Hasebe’s backhand.
Again though, the momentum shifted as the freshman blended her own aggressive play with a mix of heavy topspin balls and drop-shots. Hasebe not only took the first set (7-5), but pushed on to gain a 4-1 lead in the second set. Again, Takahashi grinded her way back into the match with some big serving this time and then a break as Hasebe suddenly became a bit more tentative. With the Hasebe now leading just 5-4, the two traded points on Hasebe’s serve until the standout freshman closed out the match 6-4 in the second set.
Doubles Play
Cate was simultaneously in action on the doubles end of the tournament, with junior/freshman combo Colette Chang/Reyna Takahashi taking on the defending champions from Foothill Tech, junior/senior combo Julia Geib/Lola Tennison. Chang and Takahashi are a much newer combo, having only played 5 matches total together after injury curtailed the majority of both of their 2023 seasons.
Despite the new partnership, Chang and Takahashi battled gamely, pushing to an early 3-2 lead against Geib and Tennison, whose TVL unbeaten-streak goes back to the 2021 season. The momentum shifted with a few double faults from the Cate team at crucial moments, and the Foothill team was able to turn the first set around for a 6-4 win. The second set was much the same, with Chang and Takahashi on the attack, but unable to get a significant edge. Foothill pulled away in the end, taking the last 3 games of the second set for a 6-3 victory.
Cate’s #2 doubles team, seniors Sophie Alijani and Frances Davis met a similar fate in the semifinal round, losing 3-6, 3-6 to Foothill, but had a much better result in the battle for 3rd place and the last first-team all-league spot. Alijani and Davis faced Laguna Blanca’s top doubles duo, seniors Grace Trautwein and Lucia Camp. The Cate seniors came out on top with a 6-2, 6-1 showing.
What’s next for Cate Girls’ Tennis?
Cate will begin its attempt to unify the CIF D3 titles, with Cate’s boys’ team having won the championship in spring of 2023. The unbeaten girls’ team will begin their run on November 1st, likely at home due to their position as the #1-seeded team in the tournament. Subsequent matches will be November 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th, assuming the team remains undefeated to the end of CIF Playoffs.
Thorpe Tennis 