First published in the Sept. 24 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
For the first time since 2018, Pasadena’s varsity girls’ tennis team earned a seventh consecutive victory by besting Alhambra, 18-0, in a nonleague match on Tuesday.
“I’ve been really impressed with our girls just generally these past couple of weeks. We have really good team leadership,” said Krista Gale, South Pasadena’s head coach.
All SPHS players stepped up in the victory that Gale fittingly described as a team effort.
Freshman Claire Chen, SPHS’ No. 2 singles player, was outstanding, defeating her Alhambra opponents by scores of 6-2, 6-0 and 6-0. She had the fewest singles game losses.
Junior Kyra Campbell, the Tigers’ No. 1 singles player, quickly defeated her foes by scores of 6-3, 6-3 and 6-1. Senior Sarah Uwabo, the No. 3 singles player, also earned a 3-0 sweep by scores of 6-0, 7-5 and 6-2.
“Our singles are just solid all the way up and down,” Gale said. “Claire is only a freshman, but she’s really come on strong.”
Juniors Charlie Kami-Duffin and Sarah Chung, the No. 2 doubles team, had the fewest game losses for the Tigers, crushing opponents by scores of 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1.
Seniors Ava Feldman and Stephanie Li had spectacular performances, flattening their competition, 6-1 and 6-1, before being replaced by sophomore Elizabeth Petty and junior Serin Hwang, who also won, 6-1.
Sophomore Isha Zafra and junior Annette Woo, SPHS’ No. 3 doubles team, executed well, defeating their challengers by scores of 7-5, 6-2 and 6-0.
“We got some veteran doubles leadership in Ava Feldman and Stephanie Li. They’ve been on varsity for three years, and they’ve been doing great, as usual,” Gale said. “It’s just been fun to watch them develop as a team and kind of develop some toughness and an enthusiasm for being out on the court.”
South Pasadena’s first Rio Hondo League match against host Monrovia, scheduled for Wednesday, ended after the Review’s press deadline. The Tigers (9-2 overall record) are scheduled to play on the road against La Cañada in SPHS’ second league match of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 3:30 p.m.
