ScottsValleyHigh School’s girls’ tennis team hosted Saint Francis Central Coast Catholic High School in a league match on Tuesday, September 15.
Head-coach, Judy Newman said ‘These could be the 1-2 teams this year.” Newman, Falcon’s head-coach is in her sixth year on the job. “St Francis High won last year’s Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title, but today’s match could go either way.”
And the coach was right. ScottsValley won decisively: 6-1. Number 1 seed single, Desi Rakela, lost, 6-4, 6-0, number 2 seed single, Phoebe Codiga, won, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, number 1 doubles of sisters, Bella and Julia Dych-O’Neil, won, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5. The second seeded doubles of Jade Zdeblick and Sheena Gee, won 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 and third-seeded double, Chenoa Jones and Jordan Mealiffe, won decisively 6-0, 6-1.
ScottsValley is now 2-0 in league play.“We have three returning seniors, also four juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen on the team. That makes a healthy mix,” said Newman. “We’ll avoid a rebuilding year, like St. Francis has this year. Our freshmen are very promising, especially Phoebe Codiga, she’s our number 2 seed already,” added Newman.
About the girls’ preparation, Newman said, “What really helps is that most of my girls are fed from ScottsValleyMiddle school, through La Madrona Tennis Club’s junior program, the biggest in NorthSanta CruzCounty. It feeds ScottsValley, San LorenzoValley, Harbor and Santa Cruz High’s tennis programs.”
Judy Newman is in her ninth year of serving as LaMadrona Tennis Club’s Pro Tennis Director. The team captains are seniors Desi Rakela, Bella Dych-O’Neil, and Grace Giguierre.
The SVHS girls’ tennis team will host San LorenzoValleyHigh School on September 24, at 3:30 p.m.
