Hart Pumped Up by Munroe

Hart High freshman Jenny Munroe learned many things the first time she played Shaland Romero of Burroughs earlier this month. Most important was to be patient, which she wasn’t in a lopsided loss.

It was a different story Thursday.

Munroe used long rallies from the baseline to wear down Romero for a 7-6 (7-4) victory that led Hart to a 10-8 victory to clinch the Foothill League title and maintain an undefeated regular season at Burroughs High.

Hart claimed its first Foothill League title since 1987 and ended Burroughs’ three-year run.

Munroe was ineffective in a 6-1 loss to Romero two weeks ago. This time she frustrated Romero, who threw her racket to the ground on two occasions and slammed a ball into a nearby fence once.

Romero battled from behind twice but eventually lost the tiebreaker.

“I was just so slow out there,’ Romero said. “And she had some good shots that fell in where I couldn’t get them.”

In the first meeting, Hart was able to pull out a victory in games after tying in sets, but Munroe’s victory over Romero helped Hart to a 4-2 lead and eventually made the difference.

“I played a lot better than last time,” said Munroe, who has lost only two sets all season. “I still didn’t sleep well the night before but I was much more ready.”

Added Hart Coach Steve Love: “It was a big boost for the whole team for Jenny to get that win.”

Munroe and Romero will likely meet again in the league individual championships next week at Cal State Northridge.

“I’m already looking forward to that,” Romero said.

Munroe had no trouble defeating Dragana Ognenovska and Brittany Reid, winning both sets, 6-0.

Romero struggled on selected points while defeating Bethanie Campbell, 6-2, and Cristina Cancio, 6-3.

Burroughs (11-5, 8-2 in league play) stayed close to Hart (15-0, 10-0) by winning three of six sets in the second round of round-robin play, but still trailed, 7-5, and was falling steadily behind in games.

Because of the game differential, Burroughs needed to win five of the final six sets to win the match.

Burroughs came close, winning three of the first four to pull even, 8-8, but a chance for a victory was lost when Hart’s No. 3 doubles team of Nancy Hwang and Jamie Ladd defeated Burroughs’ No. 2 team of Melissa Hooven and Christine Bannion, 6-2, for a 9-8 lead.

Hart led in games, 77-66, making a Burroughs victory impossible.

“I was worried we were going to have a letdown after getting the lead,” Love said.

Catherine Pucci and Penny Letts, Hart’s No. 1 doubles team, rallied to defeat Tanya Fernley and Jenny Wooldridge, 7-5.

Pucci and Letts lost for the third time this season when they were beaten, 7-6 (9-7), by Danette Romero and Michelle Hildreth in the first round.