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Impressive run ends for trio of La Cañada girls’ tennis players at CIF tournament

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La Canada’s Maya Urata gets low at the net for a return against University in a doubles match with teammate Eliana Hanna in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against tournament on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Maya Urata reaches for and hits a forehand return in a doubles match against University in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against tournament on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Eliana Hanna hits a forehand return in a doubles match against University in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Maya Urata hits a return at the net in a doubles match with teammate Eliana Hanna in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against University on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Eliana Hanna and Maya Urata look over the net at their University opponents in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Eliana Hanna looks up to the sky upset with a hit in a doubles match against University with teammate Maya Urata in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against tournament on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Sophie McKenzie hits a forehand return against Golden Valley in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against tournament on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Sophie McKenzie, unhappy with losing a point, catches her tennis racket after throwing it high into the air in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against Golden Valley’s Justine Dondahay on Wednesday, November 28, 2018. McKenzie, who injured her ankle last week, lost the match.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Sophie McKenzie tips her head to the side to regather herself after a hit she wasn’t happy in against Golden Velley in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against tournament on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Sophie McKenzie approaches the ball for a forehand hit in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against Golden Valley’s Justine Dondahay on Wednesday, November 28, 2018. McKenzie, who injured her ankle last week, lost the match.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Sophie McKenzie hits the ball with a forehand hit in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against Golden Valley’s Justine Dondahay on Wednesday, November 28, 2018. McKenzie, who injured her ankle last week, lost the match.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Canada’s Sophie McKenzie hits the ball with a forehand hit in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championships second round of sixteen in a match against Golden Valley’s Justine Dondahay on Wednesday, November 28, 2018. McKenzie, who injured her ankle last week, lost the match.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
By Charles Rich
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A splendid run in the prestigious CIF Individual Tournament came to a close for a contingent of La Cañada High girls’ tennis players Wednesday.

After helping the Spartans win the CIF Southern Section Division II championship, Eliana Hanna, Maya Urata and Sophie McKenzie looked to extend their runs at the individual event at the Seal Beach Tennis Center.

Unfortunately for the trio, their bids to capture more titles was derailed.

Hanna and Urata, who teamed up to win their first Rio Hondo League doubles championship, lost in a quarterfinal match. McKenzie, who finished runner-up in league in singles, lost in the round of 16.

The Campbell Hall sister duo of Lisa and Rachel Wagner defeated Hanna and Urata, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the quarterfinal match.

“Eliana and Maya held their own against a very good team,” La Cañada coach Will Moravec said. “They had their chances in being up 4-3 and serving in the last set.

“They just didn’t have that extra margin to breathe because every game was so close.There was no time to exhale. They fought for every point and worked hard throughout.”

Earlier Wednesday, the duo posted a 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Mya Wang and Emily Marcua of Irvine University.

McKenzie, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Singles Player of the Year, fell, 6-1, 6-4, to Justine Dondonay of Golden Valley despite battling an ankle injury.

“Sophie has been recovering from her injury and we put tape on the ankle and she just wasn’t at 100 percent,” Moravec said. “I think that made it a little too stiff, but she played much better in the second set.

“Sophie had a great career at La Cañada.”

The semifinals and finals are slated to be held Thursday at Seal Beach Tennis Center.

Sports
Charles Rich

Charles Rich was a sports writer for the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader and La Cañada Valley Sun. He started covering area high school and college sports in 2000. Rich grew up in Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., and graduated from Cal State Northridge.

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