Cate girls’ tennis moved to 6-0 on the season with a 6-0 victory in the first round of this year’s Santa Barbara Invitational Tournament.
The win marks the second time in 2 years that Cate has defeated San Dieguito (Encinitas) in the invitational, with Bay Area powerhouse Monta Vista high school looming next in the semifinals.
How it Happened:
Cate was led by dominant 6-0, 6-0 performances from sophomores Ivy Huang and Jade Wang in singles. Junior Reyna Takahashi rallied from 2-3 down in the first, rattling off 10 of the next 11 games to secure the singles sweep.
In doubles, it was all Cate as well, with decisive wins from Elly Edwards/Elsie Chamberlain and Claire Bianchi/Claire Tang. At line 1, the match was much more competitive, but junior/sophomore combo Lisa Hasebe and Chelsea Newlove eventually prevailed in straight sets (6-4, 6-4).
The match follows a 17-1 TVL league win over Villanova Prep School earlier in the week and a stretch of lopsided victories that stretches all the way back to August, when Cate narrowly defeated Dos Pueblos High School to start the season.
Coach Thorpe’s Comments:
We expect our upcoming match against Monta Vista to be a significant step up in competition, but it’s important not to lose sight of what we’ve been able to accomplish already in this season. You don’t get convincing wins like we had today against San Dieguito without a lot of effort and time spent training both at school and over the summer.
I want to applaud my girls on the way they performed today. They asserted themselves early and often in the matches, while striking the tough balance between competitive and collegial. We are relishing the matchups we’re sure to get tomorrow. The next few rounds of the tournament are opportunities to continue competing against top teams from other parts of the state, with an eye towards our goal of bringing home another CIF banner to Cate in November.
What’s Next for Cate Girls’ Tennis?
Cate will host Monta Vista in a semifinal match tomorrow morning at 8:30am, followed by either a championship or 3rd Place match at noon (also at Cate).
Thorpe Tennis 