West Valley girls tennis has mixed week on the road and at home

Tracye Dethero

Taking up Tennis: Taylor Needham of West Valley returns the ball to her opponent in a match played in Corning on Tuesday, Aug. 31. Needham is ranked No. 1 on West Valley girls tennis team.

West Valley started their week with their first league game at home against Corning, and then finished with a win in their league match against Yreka.

"A poor start to the week," said Tom Wyrick, West Valley's tennis coach. "We were in some matches (we) just couldn't get to go our way."

"(We had) a good finish to the week. Our girls' ability to withstand the heat was a tribute to their hard work thus far this season."

In Corning, the were able to topple the Lady Eagles 8-1, giving West Valley their first loss this season.

Taylor Needham, ranked No.1, started her set against Lady Cardinal Victoria Owens strong, but lost the first set 5-7. Needham then came back in the second set to win 6-4 sending the match into a tiebreak, which Owens won 10-6.

Lady Eagle Eta Ecenbarger lost her first set to Monique Davis 4-6, but came back to take the second set 6-4. Ecenbarger also lost her tiebreak against Davis, 5-10.

Amanda Richards and Holly Dethero, ranked No. 2 and 3 respectively, had a difficult time as well in their matches against Corning.

West Valley's Natalie McAuliffe and Kaylin Miner were the only double team to win their match. The Lady Eagles took their match into a tiebreak after tying the score 8-8. West Valley battled against Dorinda Walker and Davis in the tiebreak, coming away with the win, 9-8 (8-6).

Then in the 102 degree heat, the Lady Eagles hosted Yreka and came away victorious with a 7-2 win.

In singles play, No.1 Needham beat opponent Kaeli Pyles in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Needham wasn't the only West Valley player to beat her opponent in straight sets -- Richards, McAuliffe and Ecenbarger also won their matches too.

Dethero lost her first set 2-6 against Katie Chilton, then came back to win in the second, 6-3. The match went into a tiebreak that Dethero was able to win 10-1.

In doubles play Needham and Richards easily won their match 8-4, and so did McAuliffe and Miner, winning 8-6.

The Lady Eagles are 1-1 in the NAL and 2-1 overall.

CV 6, Anderson 3

Anderson kicked off the start of their tennis season by hosting Central Valley. The Lady Cubs gave it their all, but in the end the Lady Falcons won.

Yui Gabriele won her match against Brittany Slonger of Central Valley 6-1, 6-2. Lady Cub Melissa Chipley, ranked No.2, was unable to beat her opponent Koy Saelee. Chipley lost 6-3, 4-6, 21-19.

Tiffany Bernal was able to give Anderson another win by taking her match against Jessica West 7-6, 6-4.

In doubles play, Gabriele and Bernal were able to pounce Solenger and Crystal Netzloff for an 8-2 win. Falcon's Saelee and West defeated Chipley and Sarah Pendergraft 8-4.