Horwitz Falls Back Again, Then Gets Fired Up : Tennis: Kennedy High ace comes from behind to win for the ninth time and leads the Golden Cougars to a 5-2 victory over conference rival Taft.

WOODLAND HILLS —  Kennedy High’s No. 1 tennis player, Jamie Horwitz, seems to be making a habit out of falling behind before coming back to win. No problem for the rest of the team, however, as the Cougars have been winning along with her.

Both trends continued Thursday when Kennedy defeated Taft, 5-2, in a Northwest Valley Conference match at Taft High.

Horwitz (9-1) has fallen behind in all but one of her sets.

Taft’s crafty left-hander, Candy Ramyead, fashioned a 5-2 lead but Horwitz lost only four points in five games to win it, 8-6.

“I feel like I have a little edge when I’m down,” Horwitz said. “I start feeling like I don’t want to let the team down and that every point is crucial.”

Claudia Menjivar (10-0), captain of the Golden Cougars (10-1, 7-1 in conference play) breezed to an 8-2 victory over Darcy Bachrach at No. 2 singles.

The No. 1 doubles team of Elisa Edelson and Puneet Kaur gave the Cougars an 8-2 victory in their set against Helen Le and Pat Rungratanasunthorn. Kennedy Coach Diana LaBorde said she was proud of the way her team kept its composure against a Toreador team that has won eight consecutive conference championships and has been to City Section finals eight years in a row.

“Usually we’re intimidated by Taft,” LaBorde said. “But for us to come in and win like this shows that we are a very strong team.”

Taft (5-5, 3-4) scored when Sara Baddin and Donna Sassoon took an 8-4 victory over Debbie Tanudech and Anissa Bonnchum at No. 2 doubles, and Melody Abrams beat Kelly Wells at No. 3 singles.

Gloria Cardoza (9-1) defeated Jennifer Lowenstein, 8-4, at No. 4 singles, and Jenny Phan and Virginia Delcasal scored the final point for the Cougars with an 8-3 victory over Elizabeth Phan and Johanna Hamilton at No. 3 doubles.