Eagles take home second place

The West Valley girls' tennis team persevered through the match against Yreka to place second in the Northern Athletic League.

The Lady Eagles had three very impressive matches where they came from behind to win against the Miners on the road.

Cassie DeBonis was able to neatly put away her opponent Kendall Taylor in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, however her teammates had to battle their way to wins.

Perseverance was a key for the West Valley girls and their strong playing ability helped them capitalize on Yreka.

Natalie McAuliffe was down 5-2 in the first set against Yreka's Amy Gabriel, but came back from behind to send the set into a tiebreak, which McAuliffe won 7-3 in order to win the first set 7-6. McAuliffe was then able to break point three times in the second set, winning 6-3 and taking the match.

Lady Eagles Taylor Needham and Holly Dethero both sent their matches into a third set super tiebreak, where the first person to 10 points wins.

Needham lost her first set to opponent Hedi Sanders, 4-6, but then came back to win the second set 6-0. She then went on to victory by winning the super tiebreak, 10-5.

Dethero, like Needham, lost her first set against opponent Katie Chilton, 5-7. She then played hard and defeated Chilton 6-1 in the second set to send her match into a super tiebreak. Dethero took the tiebreak, 10-4, to win her match.

The Lady Eagles finish the season 8-4 in the league and 9-7 overall.

Then on Saturday at Shasta College the NAL individual competitions were held.

DeBonis went on to win the NAL singles title and with doubles partner Taylor Needham the NAL doubles title.

DeBonis went undefeated, 5-0, and took the title win in a match against Anderson's Yui Gabriele (No. 2 seed), 6-2, 6-3. Needham lost to Gabriele in the semi finals.

In doubles, DeBonis and Needham made quick work of the match against Victoria Owens and Mellissa Owens, 6-2, 6-3.