GIRLS’ TENNIS : Because Fordess Knows the Score, Wolverines Win

Lindsy Fordess, Harvard-Westlake High’s No. 1 singles player, was down two games to Chaminade’s No. 2 player Shannon Anand at the Racquet Centre on Thursday when she quietly conferred with a teammate.

“Do we need this one?” Fordess asked.

Fordess learned the Mission League match was even at eight games each, and the Wolverines’ No. 3 doubles team of Lori Markman and Marissa Case was about to lose to Chaminade’s No. 1 team of Missy Alpert and Monica Andrews.

That’s all Fordess needed to hear. Markman and Case eventually lost, but behind her devastating forehand Fordess rallied from a 4-2 deficit to win the set, 7-5. Westlake had a 73-70 edge in games to break the 9-9 tie.

“I feel like we just won the lottery,” Westlake Coach Rich Kinuya said. “I’m numbed. It just hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Freshman Teresa Galido, the No. 1 player for Chaminade (8-2, 4-1 in league play), used a powerful serve to sweep her three sets by scores of 6-2, 6-1 and 6-0. But Westlake’s No. 1 doubles team of Vicki Koven and Sheila Vassan matched the sweep with 6-2, 6-2 and 6-2 victories.

“We played great tennis but came up a bit short,” Chaminade Coach Robert Childers said.

Leila Nasseri had two big victories for the Wolverines (6-1, 5-0) from the No. 3 singles spot, defeating Chaminade No. 3 player Michelle McCarron, 6-2, and Anand, 6-1.

The Westlake victory helped atone for last year when the Wolverines lost twice to Chaminade, the defending league champion.

“Our mission is to capture the league title back,” Kinuya said. “We love the challenge, but we can’t take this win for granted the next time we play them.”

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Camarillo 18, Simi Valley 0--Katy Messmer had two shutouts in three sets at No. 1 singles to lead the Marmonte League sweep by the host Scorpions (4-3, 3-3).

Royal 10, Newbury Park 8--Michelle Welch had a 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 sweep at No. 1 singles for the visiting Highlanders (5-6, 3-3) in a Marmonte League match.

Royal’s No. 1 doubles team of Gina Decho and Sarah Parola also swept their sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0.

Quartz Hill 18, Palmdale 0--Nicole Williford recorded three 6-0 victories in a Golden League opener at Palmdale. Roopa Dandamudi recorded two 6-0 victories in three sets, and Susie Bala had three victories for the Rebels (7-1, 1-0).

San Marcos 12, Rio Mesa 6--Rio Mesa’s Zuzana Stunova improved to 21-0 with three victories in a Channel League match at San Marcos. Veronica Reynosa also posted three victories for Rio Mesa (4-3, 3-3).

Taft 6, El Camino Real 1--Stephanie Shapiro, Darcy Bachrach, Melody Abrams and Candy Ramyead swept their singles sets for Taft (4-2, 2-1 in Northwest Valley Conference play), the 1994 City Section runner-up.