Cate Drops Quarterfinal Match to Dominant Redlands High Team

Cate Girls Redlands 2013

On Monday, our season ended with a 3-15 loss to Redlands High. Since last season’s match with Redlands, they managed to pick up one of the top freshmen players in California, last year’s #1 got bumped down to #2, and their #3 player returned after a season off. Basically, they were ridiculously strong in singles, and doubles was solid, too.

All that is to say that I couldn’t be more proud of my Cate girls and the way they battled out there after the long drive. Sometimes the fact that our team gets over losing so quickly confuses me, but after this match it came in handy. Everybody gave their best and sometimes that’s all there is to it. There’s no shame in losing to a team that’s just plain better as long as heads stay held high. Continue reading “Cate Drops Quarterfinal Match to Dominant Redlands High Team”

Cate Beats Windward 11-7, Advances to CIF Quarterfinals

Kate and Summer w Ben Williams

In another strong showing, punctuated by 7 wins in singles, Cate girls tennis has defeated Windward, advancing to the quarter finals of CIF for the first time since 2010. In the next round, Cate will have a chance to avenge last year’s 2nd round loss against Redlands High School in Redlands At 2pm.

Cate got off to a 3-0 start with 6-0 wins from #1 Julia Gan, #2 McKenna Madden, and #1 doubles team Summer Christensen and Kate Dehlendorf, but as the dust settled at the end of the first round, Cate and Windward were locked at three sets each.

Momentum swung to Cate in the second round, as Madden overcame an early deficit, Gan cruised to another easy win, and Sally Shin picked up a big win against the Windward #2. In doubles, Christensen/Dehlendorf added another win and Cate #2’s Victoria Herman and Pharibe Pope gutted out a tie-break win (after having lost their first round match in another tie-breaker). At the end of two rounds Cate had eight wins and close to clinching.

In the third round of play, Cate made some substitutions, but managed to pick up easy wins from Gan, Madden, and Christensen/Dehlendorf to close out 11-7 win.

Here are some photos, courtesy of Cara Christensen and Cecelia Sanborn:

Continue reading “Cate Beats Windward 11-7, Advances to CIF Quarterfinals”

Cate Plays Best Match of Season, Defeats #7 Seed Orcutt in CIF Playoffs

Cate Girls' Tennis beats Orcutt in CIF Playoffs 2013

As a coach, these are the matches you hope for. We’d dropped a 12-6 loss to Orcutt earlier in the season, albeit without Julia Gan in the lineup. Our backs were against the wall, playing a seeded team in the first round after having lost a coin-toss for the Condor League Championship. Today though, just about everything went to plan and we played our best match of the season at the most important moment. Continue reading “Cate Plays Best Match of Season, Defeats #7 Seed Orcutt in CIF Playoffs”

Cate Girls Drop Season Finale VS Thacher, Lose Coin-Toss for League Title

It was a disappointing day for Cate, playing for the Condor League Title at Thacher. Despite another impressive sweep in singles from Sophomore Julia Gan (6-3, 6-1, 6-0), the team as a whole did not perform up to expectations and fell by the score of 8-10.

In doubles, #1 combo Summer Christensen/Kate Dehlendorf and #2 pairing Victoria Herman/Pharibe Pope each grabbed 2 sets but failed to beat the Thacher #1 doubles team. McKenna Madden added a win in singles, but was unable to overcome the two opponents who had bested her in the first match against Thacher. Cate was swept in both singles and doubles at the #3 positions.

As the season series between Cate and Thacher finished tied and both teams swept the other Condor League opponents, a coin-toss was held to decide who would gain the #1 position from the league for CIF Playoffs. Thacher won the coin-toss, meaning that Cate will be a #2 team in the playoff draw and may have to travel for the 1st round of playoffs next Wednesday.

The CIF Playoff draws will be available Monday evening and Cate tennis will look to rally for a better showing in the early rounds of playoffs.

Cate Girls Take Down Thacher 11-7 at Home

Julia makes quick work of her opponents again!
Julia makes quick work of her opponents again!

Cate now sits at 4-5 (3-0 in  league) after an 11-7 win against league rival Thacher. The team has now beaten each of its Condor league opponents and is drawing close to another Condor League title after today’s win. Continue reading “Cate Girls Take Down Thacher 11-7 at Home”