Vanessa Casalegno and Chelsea Yoakum completed their regular
season with an undefeated record Thursday in Gilroy after the San
Benito doubles pairing defeated Mustangs Meha Munshi and Alissa
Castro 6-0, 6-4.
GILROY
Vanessa Casalegno and Chelsea Yoakum completed their regular season with an undefeated record Thursday in Gilroy after the San Benito doubles pairing defeated Mustangs Meha Munshi and Alissa Castro 6-0, 6-4.
The Lady Balers won the league meet against Gilroy 7-0, and wrapped up the regular season at 8-4 in the Tri-County Athletic League, 11-7 overall.
Casalegno and Yoakum’s straight-set win, however, positions the Lady Baler duo as the team to beat entering Monday’s TCAL Tournament, scheduled to begin at 12 p.m., at Salinas High.
According to head coach Ed Cecena’s records, the senior doubles team has yet to lose a match since they started their sophomore years. After going 17-0 this season, 19-0 last season and 5-0 during their sophomore campaigns, Casalegno and Yoakum have compiled a 41-0 record over three seasons of tennis.
The two will most likely be the No. 1 seed at today’s tournament.
Meanwhile, Rachel Smith and Erin Glasspool will team up as San Benito’s second doubles pairing, while Hayley Barker and Kristina Slavich will represent the Lady Balers at singles during the two-day tournament.
On Thursday, Glasspool teamed up with Alex Triolo at the No. 2 doubles spot, and the San Benito pairing defeated Gilroy’s Melanie Morelos and Elaina Vasquez 6-4, 6-4, while Alex Garcia and Danielle Dube won their match 6-3, 7-5 over Ashley Gwynn and Sami Holder.
“Everybody played really well today,” Cecena said. “I was really glad that everyone picked up their game in the final match. Everyone played at the top of their game.”
In singles, Barker topped Jennifer Kwong 6-1, 6-1, and Smith upended Satthea Khay 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2. The third spot belonged to Slavich, who defeated Lyndsay Holt 6-2, 6-3, while Audrey Marshall completed the sweep with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Joanne Lo.
