Tigers get best of young Tologs
PASADENA — There aren’t many worries when the singles players on the Westridge tennis team step on to the court.
Maral Tavatian, Lena Tavatian and Erin McDonald each bring experience and composure, something that’s given the rest of the Tigers assurance that they have a legitimate opportunity to win the majority of their matches.
It proved to be the case once again Monday afternoon, when Westridge met visiting Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in a nonleague match at Muir High.
The trio combined to lose only one game en route to helping Westridge pick up a 17-1 victory.
“It’s our strength because they bring just so much experience,” said Westridge Coach Jerry Rivera, whose team improved to 2-0. “They are the backbone of the team, and it’s their determination to keep getting better.
“When they beat somebody easily, they don’t take it lightly. They are also all business in practice.”
Maral and Lena Tavatian, the Nos. 1 and 2 players, respectively, didn’t lose any games. McDonald lost one game, but still had no trouble dispatching her opponents. Maral Tavatian hasn’t lost a game in six sets and Lena has lost once.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Ron Zambrano, who saw his team drop to 0-3, said Westridge’s experience played a key factor in determining Monday’s outcome.
“We couldn’t touch them, especially in singles,” said Zambrano, whose team opened the season with losses against Glendale and Mayfield. “When it came down to the important points, [Westridge] knew how to get them.
“It’s tough when you have to go up against a singles lineup like that. Our goal coming into the season was to not give up any sets and keep fighting. We have a very young team, including five freshmen in the starting lineup. It’s about trying to learn, little by little.”
Westridge, which began its season Wednesday with an 18-0 nonleague road victory against Hoover, also flourished in doubles.
Cameron Marsh and Amanda Matthiessen, Westridge’s No. 1 doubles team, swept, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Westridge’s No. 2 tandem of Eileen Kwon and Emily Trojan swept, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.
The No. 3 doubles team of Annsley Matthiessen and Rachel Dillman won their lone set (6-2). They were replaced by Jordan Cruz and Sarah Vernallis, who suffered a 6-1 loss to Victoria McGregor and Lara Sarkissian before bouncing back for a 6-2 victory.
