Girls’ Tennis Preview: With new coach, Flintridge Prep still has high hopes
Things came together at the right time for the Flintridge Prep girls’ tennis team last season, enabling it to turn in its most successful campaign in program history.
Flintridge Prep finished third in the Prep League before embarking on a magnificent postseason journey that put it on the doorstep of advancing to the championship match. Flintridge Prep finished 12-9, including four consecutive victories in the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs that put it into the semifinals.
It’s buoyed the Rebels entering this season, though they will have a new coach after Morisa Yang stepped down. Replacing Yang, the reigning All-Area Girls’ and Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year, will be Art Cano.
Cano, like Yang an instructor at Arcadia Tennis Center, is well aware of what the Rebels accomplished last season.
“What they did was very special,” Cano said. “The players are excited with what they done and I’m sure they’ll want to do it again.
“It’s something I think they can definitely build on. I’m coming in for Morisa and I just want to help them get better. Just make sure they are up to speed with their skills technically.”
The Rebels will return senior Crystal Juan and junior Libby Penn, who will serve as the No. 1-2 players in singles.
Juan, a former All-Area Singles Player of the Year, was bestowed with All-Area recognition last season after going 55-7, 28-2 in league. She advanced to the second round of the CIF Individual Tournament. Penn will also look to pick up some points for the Rebels, who will compete in Division III after moving up in CIF division realignment.
La Cañada is coming off a season in which it went 6-8 and placed third in the Rio Hondo League behind champion San Marino and runner-up Temple City, which went on to win a CIF Southern Section Division III championship.
In the playoffs, La Cañada fell in the Division II first round to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 15-3.
Although coach Will Moravec has his share of returning players, including 2016 All-Area Single Player of the Year Sophie McKenzie, he is not sure what will be in store for this season.
Moravec was disappointed with the turnout at tryouts.
“We got four girls who showed up — four girls!” he said. “That’s pretty unbelievable. That is the least that we have ever had. I think in the past the least we had as eight. So we took all four of the girls.”
McKenzie returns for her junior season after a successful two years at La Cañada. Last season, she finished runner-up in singles in the competitive Rio Hondo League tournament, losing to San Marino’s Anessa Lee, and advanced three rounds in the CIF Individual Girls’ Tennis Tournament. McKenzie had a 29-6 record and went 18-2 in league.
As a freshman, McKenzie teamed up with sister Cassie to win the league doubles title and advanced to the semifinals of the CIF tournament.
“Sophie will be better than she was last year,” Moravec said. “She plays in a lot of tournaments and sectionals and she will be ready. ... It’s nice to have her to rely on.”
Also returning to bolster the Spartans’ singles corps is sophomore Annabelle Kevakian, who placed third in last season’s league tournament, as well as senior Nicole Son, who played at the No. 3 spot a year ago.
Back to lead the doubles contingent are juniors Solenn Matsuka and Ashley Chun, as well as senior Sarah Settles, the team captain. Coming up from the junior varsity team is senior Megan Galantai, who will likely play doubles.
Freshmen who could see their share of playing time are Alise Wu, Artis Philips and Sydney Wang.
“We lost four of our starters from last year, so we are trying to fill those spots,” Moravec said. “Hopefully some of those freshmen will be able to help us out.”
In league, Moravec said with Lee returning to lead San Marino, the Titans should be the favorite to win the Rio Hondo championship yet again.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy will begin its second straight season in the competitive Mission League after previously competing in the Sunshine League. The Tologs, who are in Division IV, finished fifth in league last season.
“We have a little bit more experience, but we know it’s going to be tough competing in the Mission League,” said Flintridge Sacred Heart coach Ron Zambrano, a former All-Area Coach of the Year honoree. “Maybe we can be a little better than we were last year, so we’ll see.
“We just to make sure we are heading in the right direction.”
Flintridge Sacred Heart will return junior singles Charlotte Collins and sophomore Meghan Sullivan.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
