Scott Forstner / Sports Writer | Posted: Friday, October 1, 2004 12:00 am
Nipomo sophomore Elizabeth Will brought her undefeated record into Thursday/s Los Padres League matchup against host St. Joseph.
And despite the Titans/ 12-6 loss to the Knights, Will walked away with three more league victories - sweeping St. Joseph/s singles lineup of senior Jessica Garcia (6-2), sophomore Jenna Okerblom (7-5), and junior Sophia Eszes (6-3).
"I felt like I was being very consistent. My serve was going in when I needed it to. My head was solid," said Will. "It would be nice if our team won, too. But they/re trying their hardest. All that matters is if you try your best."
The best match of the day came when Will was up against Okerblom in her second set. St. Joseph/s No. 2 singles player battled to a 5-4 edge before Will turned it up a notch to win the final three games.
"I took time to really think about what I needed to do and get ready for the next point," said Will, who finished a modest 18-18 last season.
Okerblom, however, recovered from the heartbreaking defeat to seal the Knights/ second league victory with a 6-1 nod over Nipomo sophomore Lauren Caron.
The trio of St. Joseph/s singles players (Garcia, Okerblom, Eszes) all won two of three sets - falling only to Will, the only Titan to walk away with a winning record.
"We knew Elizabeth (Will) was a bit of a challenge. Basically, I kinda went in to get as much as I could out of her," said Garcia. "I feel it was one of my best matches today. I rallied with her. I played consistently. There were some really close points, a lot were deuces."
Garcia was the first to complete her three sets, earning victories over Nipomo/s Caron (6-1) and junior Nicole Duran (6-2).
"I knew I had to keep my spirits high. We knew it was going to be kind of close in singles. I knew all our singles had to come through," Garcia said. "We lost to them the first time we played them (last year), and we said we would never let that happen again."
St. Joseph/s top doubles tandem of juniors Lauren Freitas and Courtney Jaeckels made sure of that, sweeping their three sets in dominating fashion (6-0, 6-3, 6-2).
"We had a good day. We played really good," said Jaeckels, whose partner has been her best friend since kindergarten. "Pretty much we can read what each other is thinking, and we play really well together."
The Knights/ duo has won 14 of 15 sets this season.
"We just have to do it point by point," said Freitas. "I/m the one who always gets frustrated. She calms me down."
In the No. 2 doubles position, St. Joseph seniors Kristen Fuerch and Megan McDermott took two of three sets with teammate Jacquelyn McKiernan subbing in for the second victory. Seniors Jackie Spallino and Eunice Park also picked up a win, upsetting Nipomo/s top unit of juniors Diana Melero and Danielle Moran.
"I/m very happy with the girls/ performance. It was a real team effort today," said St. Joseph coach Meg Hoffman. "Everybody got a point or two. I/m very proud of them and it/s off to the next."
Melero and Moran picked up one win for Nipomo, as well as the No. 2 unit of junior Joanna Tombs and senior Monica Gomez, and the No. 3 duo of juniors Gwen Tindula and Rosaura Saenz.
"I thought we did OK," said Titans/ coach Rosemarie Will. "They were just stronger today. We/ll get them next time. We/ll try at least."
Santa Ynez 12, Cabrillo 6
SANTA YNEZ 7 Subi Sundaram swept her sets 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 as the Pirates won a showdown for first place.
Krista Armenta and Chelsa Nash, and Jeaneal Gunning and Taylor Voorhis, Santa Ynez/s top two doubles pairs, also swept their sets. Lisa Schutz won two sets at No. 3 singles for the Conquistadores (3-1, 4-3).
Santa Maria 15, Lompoc 3
At the Minami Center, the Saints (4-1, 7-2) breezed to a LPL win over the winless Braves (0-4, 0-7).
Blanca Garcia, Desirae Bontempo and Victoria Regalado, and Berennise Becerra and Raquel Bucayu all swept their sets. Garcia won 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 at No. 3 singles.
Bontempo and Regalado prevailed 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, and Becerra and Bucayu roared through their day on the courts, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1.
Arroyo Grande 12, Righetti 6
Jane Lee and Emily Johnson swept their sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles for the Warriors, but Righetti fell short at home in a PAC-5 League match.
Whitney Fargen and Kaylee Lewis won twice at No. 2 doubles for Righetti (0-5, 1-7). Singles players Stephanie Hubbell and Hannah Crampton swept three sets each for Arroyo Grande (3-2, 4-4).
JV Tennis
Santa Maria 11, Lompoc 7
LOMPOC 7 The Saints improved to 5-1 behind Crystal Rubio, Sandra Zamora and Elia Santiago.
Rubio swept her sets at No. 2 singles. So did Zamora and Santiago at No. 1 doubles.
Oct. 1, 2004