From Staff Reports
Odds and ends from the local high school girls' tennis scene:
Clear cut: They completed arguably their toughest stretch of the
regular season and will next attempt to defend their Pacific League
title.
Learning lessons count and Crescenta Valley High girls' tennis
Coach Tom Gossard might have learned one from CV's matches in late
September against Upland and Granada Hills, a traditional L.A. City
Section finalist.
CV split the two matches, starting with a win Sept. 24 against
Upland. It then lost to Granada Hills on Sept. 27. The teams tied in
sets, but the Highlanders won on games, 78-64.
"We know that we have to beat the teams in front of us," Gossard
said. "The loss to Granada Hills was a good loss. They haven't lost
in sets in seven years. It's now about us trying to raise the bar."
Gossard might have CV, which has won three consecutive league
championships, borrow a page from Granada Hills' book on success.
The Highlanders have reached the semifinals each year since 1994
and have appeared in the last four finals, including a championship
in 1999.
The Falcons have advanced no further than the second round of the
CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.
So close: You'd think Glendale Coach Bob Davidson would be
thrilled with playing so closely with Arcadia, falling just, 10-8,
Thursday at home.
But the long-time coach, who doubles as the school's co-athletic
director, was a bit disappointed with the loss, partly because he
thought his team could have won.
Leading, 6-5, in the second round, No. 3 singles player Jennifer
Kang was up 5-4.
A win would have put the Nitros in great position in the third
round, however, Kang fell, 7-5.
"That loss just took away our momentum," Davidson said.
Glendale eventually lost four of the six sets in the third round,
but the defeat should be an encouraging one.
The Apaches are usually a lock to take the second place spot in
the Pacific League, but with the Nitros playing them so closely,
things could get interesting the next time the teams meet at 3:15
p.m. Oct. 22 at Arcadia.
