All-Area Girls’ Tennis Team
Crystal Juan, Junior, Flintridge Prep
Last season’s All-Area Girls’ Tennis Singles Player of the Year, she had the second-best record in the Prep League at 28-2 and helped the Rebels reach the CIF Southern Section Division IV semifinals for the first time in program history. During the Rebels’ historic run, Juan was a catalyst, posting a 14-1 record with her only loss coming in the semifinals against Thacher, the eventual division champion. She also advanced to the second round of CIF Individual Tournament with a straight-set, first-round win over Orange League champion Tiffany Vo of Magnolia and finished the season at 55-7.
Kristina Kirakosyan, Freshman, Burbank
Had an outstanding first season with the Bulldogs, helping them finish second in the Pacific League. She placed third in the league tournament and had a 45-6 overall record, which included a 6-0 mark in two CIF Southern Section Division III playoff matches. She also went 30-6 in league.
Nicole Merrit, Senior, Burbank
Ended her four-season with the Bulldogs with another fine effort, helping the team to a runner-up finish in the Pacific League. Played doubles in the league tournament and advanced to the semifinals with Johana Faraj. Had a 44-7 overall record and went 31-5 in league and 5-1 in two playoff matches en route to her fourth All-Area honor.
DOUBLES
Johana Faraj, Junior, and Elza Vardanyan, Freshman, Burbank
Pair was the most successful for the league runner-up Bulldogs, compiling a 43-8 overall record and a 30-6 mark in league. They also went 4-2 in playoff matches, including the Bulldogs’ only two doubles wins in a 10-8 loss to Riverside Poly. Faraj advanced to the Pacific League doubles semifinals with Nicole Merrit.
Jennifer Drechsler, Senior, and Sandy LeMay, Senior, Burroughs
Duo was the most consistent performer for Indians on the season, helping them reach the CIF Southern Section playoffs after finishing fourth in league. Tandem had a 22-8 record in the Pacific League.
Camille Gibney, Junior, and Kiran Hamkins, Junior, Crescenta Valley
The duo played a big part in helping the Falcons to the CIF Southern Section playoffs after a third-place showing in the Pacific League. Together they finished 27-11, 16-5 in league as the Falcons’ No. 2 doubles team with an impressive 8-2 run in the playoffs.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Morisa Yang, Flintridge Prep
Guided the Rebels to the most successful season in program history. Flintridge Prep placed third in the Prep League and finished the season with a 12-9 record, but it was the playoffs in which Yang’s team shined. Following a 2015 season in which the Rebels missed out on the playoffs with a loss in a play-in match, just making the postseason wasn’t enough. The Rebels began the postseason with a 17-1 lambasting of Lancaster in the wild-card round. From there, they trounced Webb in the first round, defeated JW North in the second, 10-8, and then won on games versus second-seeded La Serna before falling in the program’s first-ever semifinal appearance to eventual champion Thacher.