Cate School girls tennis opened their season with another barn-burner of a match that almost saw a repeat of last season’s 9-9, 73-73, 9-9, 106-102 match.
This early-season match-up pitted last season’s D2 Semifinalists (Cate) against last season’s D3 Semifinalists (Dos Pueblos) in Goleta, California. With just three days of team practice under the belt, the Rams rallied together and performed at a very high level to stave off defeat, after falling behind 5-7 in the match.
How it Happened:
Cate singles was led by sophomore Ivy Huang, who went 2-1 on the day, pushing Dos Pueblos star and UTR 6.75 senior Melisandre Mayo to 5-7 in the opening round. That opening round was a 3-0 shutout for DP in singles, but Cate’s doubles lineup evened the score with a shutout of their own.
Cate’s doubles lineup was anchored by junior Lisa Hasebe and sophomore Chelsea Newlove, who paired together for the first time and finished 3-0 on the day.
With the first round a draw, Dos Pueblos gained ground with two quick wins in singles and two much more contested wins in doubles. Cate’s line 1 players kept the team in contention with a pair of wins, but Dos Pueblos ended round 2 with a 7-5 lead and a lot of momentum.
Then, as has happened so many times in recent years, the Rams locked in and took their level up a notch. Reina Takahashi turned her day around with a resounding 6-0 win over DP #2 Isla Herrera, 6-0. Huang added another 6-0 win, and then the doubles teams had their turn. First, it was Elly Edwards and third-round substitution, Gwendi Rogers, who came through with a 6-4 win. Within minutes, Hasebe and Newlove took Cate to 9 wins with another 6-4 victory sealed by a fearless backhand poach from Newlove. Seconds later, senior Elsie Chamberlain and junior Claire Tang added a 6-3 victory to clinch the match for Cate.
Coach Thorpe’s Comments:
When I scheduled this match a week earlier than last year, I knew I was taking a risk. It was asking a lot of the girls to come back to school ready to take on one of the best teams in Santa Barbara County on day 4, but we’ve been a championship-quality team for a few years now and to be the best you need to push. I’m thrilled that the girls responded in this way and I think it’s a testament to their confidence as players that we were able to beat a very strong Dos Pueblos team today. I also want to highlight the fair play exhibited by both teams throughout the match, which is so nice to see in such a competitive environment.
What’s Next for Cate Girls’ Tennis?
Cate will return to action at San Marcos High School at 3pm on Thursday, August 28th for another pre-season match against a CIF championship contender from 2024.
Thorpe Tennis 