Camarillo Weathers Storm : Players on Best Behavior as Scorpions Defeat Westlake in Tennis Rematch

Dark clouds threatened to dump rain on Tuesday’s highly anticipated Marmonte League girls’ tennis showdown between Camarillo and Westlake high schools.

Late in the match, darkness forced competition to be moved from Camarillo to a lighted facility.

But unlike the teams’ Oct. 3 match, there was no threat of unsportsmanlike conduct by players in Camarillo’s 12-6 victory.

The pre-match hype focused on the verbal warfare that erupted in the previous meeting, a 11-7 Camarillo victory.

But in the presence of administrators from both schools and a large crowd (for a tennis match) of about 100, players were on their best behavior.

And the Scorpions were on their game.

“Our only goal was to stay focused from the first point to the last,” said Camarillo No. 1 singles player Darian Chappell, who swept her three sets. “Everyone just played tennis and let the rackets speak for themselves.”

All three Scorpion doubles teams swept their sets, running their combined Marmonte League record to 99-0. None of Camarillo’s doubles teams lost more than three games.

“Our doubles were just awesome,” Camarillo Coach Frances Giffin said. “We didn’t get all riled up like last time. We just tried to stay focused on what we were trying to do.”

What the Scorpions (14-1, 11-0 in league) were trying to do was wrap up the league title, something they appear close to accomplishing. Westlake (12-3, 9-2) is the only other team in the league with fewer than four losses. Each team has three matches remaining.

Chappell played outstanding tennis in her sets, defeating Westlake No. 1 singles player Helena Horak and No. 3 Katy Smith by 6-2 scores.

Chappell completed her sweep with a 6-4 victory over Erin Smith, avenging her only league defeat of the season and halting Smith’s Marmonte League win streak at 77 sets.

Chappell opened a 3-0 lead, but Smith rallied to tie, 3-3.

After moving to the lighted courts at nearby Mission Oaks Park with Chappell leading 4-3, Chappell broke Smith’s serve to go up 5-4 and then won a thrilling final point when Smith hit a backhand long.

“It’s disappointing, but they played tough,” Westlake Coach Connie Flanderka said. “There aren’t any easy matches against them.”

There will be no rematch in the Southern Section playoffs, neither between the teams nor between Smith and Chappell.

The teams play in different divisions, and Chappell said she will skip the individual tournament. Smith will play doubles with twin sister Katy.

One of the questions leading up to the match was whether U.S. Tennis Assn. officials would be used. None were used and none were needed.

Only two requests were made for line judges, not an unusual number in a high school match. There were no complaints of parental coaching, as there were in the previous match.

“More than anything the good sportsmanship was important to me,” Flanderka said. “Things went a lot better this time.”