Burbank loses in CIF quarterfinals, 16-2

Jeff Tully

The Burbank High girls’ tennis team has been able to accomplish one

of its major goals this season.

Although the Bulldogs didn’t accomplish their target of winning a

Foothill League championship, they did what they set out to do in the

CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs -- advance to the

quarterfinals.

Tuesday afternoon, Burbank was defeated in a quarterfinal match

against host Long Beach Poly, 16-2.

The Jackrabbits (17-2), who won a Moore League championship, are

seeded No. 3.

The contest was a rematch of last season’s playoffs, when Poly

defeated Burbank, 14-4, in a second-round p match.

“We met our goal for the playoffs,” said Burbank Coach Paul

McNiff, whose team ends the season 16-4.

“But this is a very good Poly team, even better than last season.

I was shocked at how good their singles were.”

The Bulldogs were able to win their two sets when the match was

already won by Poly, which substituted players late in the contest.

One set was won by freshman No. 1 singles player Marianna

Khachatryan, 6-0, and the No. 1 doubles team of Kristine Patatanyan

and Vera Affi, 6-4, won the second.

With Khachatryan being a freshman, and singles players Lucy

Youchkovets and Natalie Rafaelian being juniors, the team should be

in great shape next season.