French fries the field

POWER GAME-Newbury Park's Taylor French hammers a serve during the individual finals of the Marmonte League girls' tennis tournament. French beat Calabasas' Brittany Harper 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. Newbury Park junior Taylor French entered Tuesday's Marmonte League girls' tennis final without any prior success against her opponent, Calabasas junior Brittany Harper.

On a sweltering day at Arroyo Vista Park, at the courts adjacent to Moorpark High, French finally altered her results against Harper, beating the Calabasas standout for the first time in her career.

French, who attended Weil Tennis Academy in Ojai last year before enrolling at Newbury Park this season, defeated Harper 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to capture the individual championship.

Harper won a Marmonte League doubles title during her freshman season. She was the league's reigning singles champion and its No. 1 seed in this year's tournament.

"It was a good day," French said. "Brittany and I have played a lot, and normally I don't do well. I'm very happy to win this time."

"I've been working hard, and it paid off."

French, admittedly, is animated on the court. She's somewhat vocal, likes to smile and often pumps her fist after a big point.

"It keeps me relaxed," she said.

For finishing in the top two at the league tournament, French and Harper each advance to the CIFSouthern Section Girls Individual Sectionals on Sat., Nov. 18, at either Agoura or Oak Park high schools.

Before beating Harper in the finals, French, the No. 3 seed, easily got past Calabasas' Eileen Chang in the semifinals, 6-3 and 6-1.

Chang, the No. 2 seed, rebounded in the third-place game with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Westlake's Lauren Schwartz.

"It was fun," said Chang, a senior. "I think I played okay. The competition was good though, especially at the end."

As a freshman last season, Schwartz was knocked out of the league tournament in the second round. Although disappointed by Tuesday's results, Schwartz said she's improved greatly since her early exit a year ago.

"I'm happy I made it to the semifinals," Schwartz said. "Hopefully next year I'll make it to the finals and get first or second place."

In the doubles final, Calabasas' Sabrina Man-Son-Hing and Valerie Chang dug themselves a big hole early, but rallied late to upset their top-seeded teammates, Jilli Schnitman and Tiffany Harper, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Like the top two singles players, both Calabasas doubles teams now advance to the sectional tournament.

Thousand Oaks' tandem of Danielle and Tara Erb won the thirdplace doubles match 61, 60 over Simi Valley's Sarah Ko and Megan Boon.

Tennis playoffs start today

High school girls' team tennis playoffs are underway in full this afternoon.

In CIF-SS Division I, the Marmonte League champion Calabasas Coyotes host Chaminade. Thousand Oaks is at home to take on Notre Dame/ Sherman Oaks, while Westlake plays at Mira Costa and Moorpark travels to Harvard-Westlake.

Viewpoint made the Division II postseason as a wild card, and on Tuesday afternoon the Patriots defeated Burroughs 14-4. The Patriots now play top-seeded Marlborough on the road today.

Oak Park, a Division III participant, stays home to play La Canada. Division V Oaks Christian hosts Whittier Christian.

All matches are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.