Crescenta Valley High girls’ tennis falls to Pacific League favorite Arcadia
LA CRESCENTA — There’s a sign hanging at the Crescenta Valley High tennis courts that lists the Pacific League championship seasons for the school’s girls’ tennis team.
A win in the 2013 league opener against reigning, undefeated league champion Arcadia would put the Falcons in position to add to the sign for the 10th time, with their most recent title coming in 2008. Crescenta Valley will instead have to hope to take down Arcadia on the road, as it suffered an 11-7 loss to the Apaches Tuesday.
With the CIF Southern Section Division II second-ranked Apaches coming to town for the second match of the season, Falcons Coach Sam Hyun shuffled his lineup and moved No. 1 singles player Alexa Gregorian into doubles to form a super team with Jackie Dilanchyan.
“We tried to strengthen our doubles side, but our No. 3 doubles they don’t have much experience with doubles, they’re two singles players,” said the second-year coach, whose team took third in league last year behind Arcadia (12-0 in league) and Burbank (10-2) with an 8-4 record. “They’re having trouble finding a good rhythm and the strategy of doubles.”
Crescenta Valley will be eyeing another top-three spot in league this year. It will take on Burbank, which is 2-0 after shutting out Burroughs, 18-0, Tuesday, on Sept. 24 and look to move up into the top two this season with a victory.
Gregorian and Dilanchyan led a doubles grouping that won all seven sets with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 sweep. Angela Seo and Ashley An also claimed three points for CV, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4, with their most dramatic win coming against Arcadia’s Ashley Gao and Michelle Gu. Selin Ayvazian and Sarah Yaghoubi won CV’s final set, 6-2.
Playing together wasn’t new for Gregorian and Dilanchyan, who played together last year when the Falcons faced a strong singles lineup. While Hyun was pleased with his top two doubles teams, there’s still work to be done.
In singles, the Falcons were defeated by a total score of 54-9. Arcadia (2-0) received sweeps from Sharlene Song (6-0, 6-0, 6-0), Firdaus Jahangir (6-1, 6-2, 6-2) and Angelica Zhou (6-0, 6-0), who was subbed out in the final round.
“We’re a little inexperienced in doubles, still Arcadia’s singles are very good, so it’s hard to match them,” Hyun said.
Crescenta Valley has opened the season at 0-2 after falling to West Ranch, 11-7, on Friday. It resumes nonleague play when it hosts La Cañada Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. The Falcons will then look for their first Pacific League win Thursday when they travel to Glendale at 3:30 p.m.