After playing No. 1 doubles last year, San Benito High senior Megan Hurley has moved up into the No. 1 singles position this season. The earned promotion hasn’t come without its challenges, as Hurley recently lost a match to Monte Vista Christian’s top player, 6-0, 6-0. However, Hurley has maintained a positive outlook despite having to play against superior competition.
“It’s been very challenging, but I’ve learned a lot about my game,” she said. “It’s been a big jump, but I’m glad I made the jump.”
San Benito girls tennis coach Ed Cecena said players like Hurley and junior Jessica Kirschmann make the game fun.
“The girls are very coachable and it’s a lot of fun for me,” said Cecena, who is the second longest tenured coach (13th year) at the school behind only football coach Chris Cameron. “As long as I’m having fun, I’ll keep on doing it.”
Cecena has had assistant coach Rick Espino by his side for the last couple of years, and the two have made for a nice combination. They communicate regularly and try to get the girls play more in the off-season, which can be a tough sell because the majority of the players at the school aren’t top-notch junior players who compete in United States Tennis Association (USTA) junior tournaments.
San Benito still manages a top-three finish every year in the Monterey Bay League’s Gabilan Division, and Cecena said this year should be no exception.
“Salinas is always the team to beat, and Alisal and us and usually another team battle for second,” he said. “So far, I like what I’m seeing from the girls.”
Even though the Balers graduated their top four singles players from a year ago, they return a number of doubles players who are eager to step up and take on the challenging role of playing against the opponent’s best players. Hurley and Kirschmann will most likely alternate as the Nos. 1 and 2 singles players, depending on who wins their challenge matches throughout the season.
“Both are veteran players in their fourth year in the program,” Cecena said. “Megan is a hard hitter who can hit her serve with a lot of pace while being able to direct the ball well. Jessica is a solid baseliner and tries to come in on short balls while also being a good all-around player.”
Cecena said junior Morgan Johnson has the versatility to play singles or doubles. Heidi Bribiesca has been playing the No. 3 singles position, and she came away with a nice 6-4, 6-4 win over Notre Dame-Salinas in the team’s 4-3 win on Sept. 10.
Freshman Julia Pearson played No. 4 singles against Notre Dame, coming away with a 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 win, with a super tiebreaker as the third set. Cecena has been encouraged by the play of Pearson, who enters San Benito with junior tournament experience.
“We’re looking for a lot of good things from Julia,” Cecena said.
Senior Maddy Triolo can play singles or No. 1 doubles, which she did with Mari Hernandez—another excellent doubles player—in a straight-sets victory over the No. 1 Notre Dame doubles team. Triolo and Hernandez are a reliable doubles squad, and Cecena is hoping to establish solid pairings at the Nos. 2 and 3 slots.
“We’re still working out and trying different combinations,” Cecena said. “We’re mixing and matching, seeing what works best.”
Cecena also expects contributions from Saira Zapien, Kaylee Hansen, Vivian Hernandez and Allison Okamoto. Hurley represents the Balers well in that she also excels in the classroom. Hurley is taking four advanced placement classes this year, and her weighted GPA through her junior year is close to a 4.0.
Hurley has taken a keen interest in special-needs kids, and has participated in the Gifted Games in each of the last two years. Hurley is the vice president of the Circle of Friends club on campus—its mission is to provide inclusion for students with disabilities. Hurley plans on being a special-needs teacher, having gained a passion to care for those with extraordinary challenges.
“I want to help everyone know about special-needs kids and include them in everyday life so they can gain real-life experiences we all get,” Hurley said.
