Locals learn matchups
GLENDALE — Though the schools are located less than 10 miles apart, neither the Glendale High or Flintridge Prep girls’ tennis teams are familiar with one another.
That will change significantly today after the CIF office unveiled its playoff pairings Monday.
Glendale will meet Flintridge Prep in a CIF Southern Section Division II wild-card match at 2 p.m. today at Scholl Canyon Tennis Center and Crescenta Valley will face visiting Edison in a Division II first-round match at 2 p.m. Thursday.
“I’m surprised that we don’t have to travel and it will be good having two local teams,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Ron Catano, whose team finished 13-4 and in third place in the Prep League. “I haven’t heard too much about Glendale, but I think it will be a good matchup for us.”
Veteran Glendale Coach Bob Davidson, whose squad went 6-8 and took third in the Pacific League, said he’s aware that the Rebels are strong in singles and could pose matchup problems.
The Rebels are led by junior singles players Kira Lee, the reigning All-Area Player of the Year, and Jenise Vargas. Vargas, a sophomore, earned All-Area accolades last season.
“They are strong in singles, so those aren’t good matchups for us,” said Davidson, who will feature singles player Adrine Babakhanian. “I think if we can play well in doubles then we have a competitive chance.
“We are going to have to play our absolute best in doubles. They are going to have to step up and do it.”
The winner of the Glendale-Flintridge Prep battle will travel to Mission Viejo for a first-round match at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Crescenta Valley (13-4) will enter the playoffs having finished second in the Pacific League. A handful of Falcons players fared well last week at the league finals and will look to pick up their pace against an Edison squad that went 12-4 and took second in the Sunset League behind top-seeded Newport Harbor.
Crescenta Valley first-year Coach Sarah Wiggins said the Falcons have some playoff-tested seniors in Erin LeVoir and Sarah Ali who will look to carry the squad deep into the playoffs.
“I feel happy that we have a home match and the main focus will be keeping their spirits up,” Wiggins said. “We have a good team if everybody is healthy.
“We are going to have some tough practices through Wednesday and get some momentum off that.”
The winner of the Crescenta Valley-Edison match will meet San Marino, Dos Pueblos or Foothill in a second-round match Saturday, with San Marino the favorite.
