The San Benito girls tennis team lost for just the second time in their last 20 matches Wednesday, a streak dating back to the start of last season, when host Aptos swept the singles and edged the Lady 'Balers 4-3.
San Benito coach Ed Cecena said Aptos should be competing for a league title this season against Santa Cruz, which the Lady 'Balers will visit on Sept. 29 in what will likely be another measuring-stick match.
"We're establishing ourselves as a pretty good team. I'm not disappointed with the loss," Cecena said. "We're looking for the best competition. We may lose these matches, but in the long run it'll make us stronger."
For what it's worth, although Aptos managed to sweep the singles, San Benito took all three doubles match.
At the No. 1 spot, Marisa Ibarra and Crystal Perreira beat Grace Clark and Sienna Dwyang 6-4, 6-2, while Vanessa Casalegno and Chelsea Yoakum defeated Natalie Podolsky and Sandra Doyle 6-0, 6-3.
At No. 3 doubles, Rachel Smith and Lauren Ademek went to a third-set tiebreaker against Aptos' Alex Naess and Lissete Parks, but managed to narrowly defeat the Mariner pairing 6-3, 3-6 (10-7).
In singles, top player Amanda Marshall was out ill, Cecena said, and Abbie Woods filled in. Woods, though, couldn't upend Erica Hoffman and lost 6-3, 6-0. Aptos' Haley Kepler beat Bri Ahumada-Wolfsmith 6-0, 6-0 and Kelsey Doyle defeated Haybaler Hayley Barker 7-5, 6-2. In the No. 4 spot, San Benito's Kristina Slavic fell 6-2, 6-0 to Katelyn Kampa.
San Benito (3-1) will play at Carmel Friday at 3:30 p.m.
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