Bulldogs come on late
BURBANK HIGH — Burbank High girls’ tennis Coach Loi Phan figured the final result of Tuesday’s Pacific League opener against rival Burroughs was going to be close.
The coach’s prediction held true through the first and second of three rounds, as the cross-town foes battled to a tie.
However, the Bulldogs were able to come on in the third round and, led by a doubles sweep, surged to an 11-7 victory against the Indians.
“I figured it would be 10-8 or 9-9, and we might have to go to games,” said Phan, whose team placed fourth in league last season. “I’m very proud of the girls, and especially the way they came back and played in that third round. This is a very good win for us.”
Burroughs Coach Roy Bernhardt, on the other hand, went into the match not knowing what to expect.
“I had no idea of what Burbank had, except what I read in the paper,” he said. “I really didn’t know how close the score would be.”
Although it’s just one match into league play, Phan thinks the win is significant.
“I was talking to the Glendale coach and we thought that the winner of this one would have the early advantage to finish third in league,” he said. “There are a group of teams in league that are very close talent wise. There’s a good chance that those teams will just beat up on one another.”
Burroughs (2-2) — which missed the playoffs in 2010 — gave the Bulldogs (3-1) a tough battle in the first round, which ended with the teams tied at 3.
But Phan made two switches in doubles in the second round, and those moves ultimately paid dividends.
In No. 2 doubles, Gabi Schnaid was inserted with partner Dana Gibson in the second round, after Gibson dropped the first set with teammate Alexi Fumanig. Gibson and Schnaid went on to win their two sets, 6-4, 6-3.
In No. 1 doubles, Veronica Mendoza and her partner, Miyon Kim, who came on in the second round, were able to win one, 6-4.
The big doubles story, however, was the play of the No. 3 Burbank duo of Gaby Markari and Brianne Walker, as the pair swept, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
“In two of those sets that doubles team had to battle after being down,” Phan said. “They did a great job.”
The Bulldogs also received solid efforts from their top two singles players. While Ashley Basco won two at No. 2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-0, No. 2 Meredy Gharabegi also won two, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. Elizabeth Sanchez took one, 2-6, 4-6, 6-4.
Burroughs was paced by No. 1 singles Kathy Henry, who earned a sweep, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.
Henry, a senior, was an all-league girls’ volleyball player for the Indians before deciding to play tennis for her final year.
“It is a lot different playing tennis instead of volleyball,” Henry said. “Volleyball is more of a team sport and tennis is a lot more focused on being an individual. But I’m having fun.”
The Indians received single-set wins from No. 2 singles Diane Murtha, 6-4, the No. 1 doubles team of Jessica Vu and Rachel Ortiz, 7-5, as well as the No. 2 duo of Aileen Canaria and Camielle Yuson, 6-3, and the pair of Mana Garcia and Amanda Trinh, 6-4.