Battling a Notre Dame team Lady Balers head coach Ed Cecena
calls one of the best in the Tri-County Athletic League, San Benito
swept the doubles matches Thursday but narrowly lost to the Spirits
4-3 at the Chamisal Tennis and Fitness Club in Salinas.
SALINAS
Despite defeat, the San Benito High girls tennis team may have found something to build upon.
Battling a Notre Dame team Lady Balers head coach Ed Cecena calls one of the best in the Tri-County Athletic League, San Benito swept the doubles matches Thursday but narrowly lost to the Spirits 4-3 at the Chamisal Tennis and Fitness Club in Salinas.
“Notre Dame squeaked by, a real close match,” Cecena said. “They won all the singles and we won all the doubles. Unfortunately, there are more singles matches than doubles.”
San Benito nearly stole one of the singles matches, though. At the No. 2 spot, Baler Rachel Smith lost to Brooke Caraccioli 6-3, 2-6 and 9-11 in the third-set tiebreaker.
Notre Dame took the remaining three singles matches in straight sets. Auburn Carpenter defeated Hayley Barker 7-5, 7-6 in the No. 1 position, Chantelle Edwards upended Kristina Slavich at No. 3 spot 7-5, 6-2, and Daisie Winstone beat San Benito’s Audrey Marshall 6-0, 6-3 in the No. 4 position.
In doubles, the Lady Balers cruised to three victories. Top pairing Vanessa Casalegno and Chelsea Yoakum downed Ashley Pippen and Megan Tolvera 6-2, 6-4; the No. 2 doubles team of Erin Glasspool and Alex Treolo beat Brenda Ponce and Lexie Flores 7-5, 6-3; and San Benito’s Danielle Dube and Alex Garcia preserved the sweep by defeating Carmella Flores and Sara Balesteri 6-1, 7-5.
“It was our first league match,” Cecena said. “Even though we lost, I was very encouraged because we came very close to beating probably the second best team in the league.”
San Benito (0-1 TCAL, 2-3 overall) will return to the court for four matches next week. On Monday, the Lady Balers will visit Monterey, host Alisal on Tuesday, visit Aptos on Wednesday, then wrap up with North Salinas on Thursday on the road.
All matches are scheduled for 4 p.m.
San Benito will host Notre Dame again on Oct. 13.
“I’m looking forward to seeing them again, once they come to Ridgemark,” Cecena said of the Spirits. “I think the girls gained confidence because they competed well against one of the top teams.
“We’re looking forward to playing them again.”
