Burroughs Outpointed by Hart

There was nothing underhanded about the way Hart High became the front-runner for its first Foothill League girls’ tennis title since 1987.

Hart rallied after dropping the first four sets, including one by No. 1 singles player Jenny Munroe, to tie Burroughs, 9-9, and beat the three-time defending league champion in games, 76-70, Tuesday at Hart.

Hart (10-0, 5-0 in league play) put itself in position to win with solid doubles play, including a 6-1 victory by No. 3 team Nancy Hwang and Jamie Ladd over Brittany Reid and Melissa Hooven, Burroughs’ No. 2 team.

Burroughs (7-4, 4-1) held a 9-8 lead in sets after Danette Romero and Michelle Hildreth defeated Meredith Simmons and Kristen Semelsberger, 6-4, in the penultimate match. But the teams were tied in games, 70-70, which meant Hart needed only to win the final set to claim the match.

Penny Letts and Catherine Pucci delivered for Hart, beating Tanya Fernley and Jenny Wooldridge, 6-0, as darkness fell.

“We didn’t know what the game score was,” Letts said. “We figured we had to win. It’s funny to have everybody watching you. You look on one side and it’s all [Burroughs] and the other is all [Hart].”

Despite having to serve underhand because of an elbow injury suffered over the summer, Munroe had dropped only one set all season.

After receiving clearance to serve overhand over the weekend, Munroe struggled against Burroughs senior Shaland Romero. A shaky service game led to a 6-1 loss, which Munroe attributed more to nerves than her elbow.

“I was erratic,” Munroe said. “I put too much pressure on myself. I wanted to keep the ball in play but I wound up hurting myself.”

After icing her elbow following the first set, Munroe played much smoother, defeating freshman Dragana Ognenovska, 6-2, and Christine Banian, 6-1. She iced her elbow again after the third set.

“It still hurts a little,” Munroe said.

Shaland Romero, whose only losses during the regular season last year came against Jieun Jacobs of Hart, had no problems beating Cristina Cancio and Bethane Campbell, both by 6-0 scores.

“I was still kind of nervous,” Romero said. “I had to stay focused and keep from giving away any games because I thought that’s what it would come to.”