Tennis teams continue to chase Coyotes

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers IN THE HUNT—Lauren Schwartz and the Westlake High girls' tennis team must figure out a way to beat Calabasas if they want to have a shot at the league title. Thousand Oaks is also expected to be a strong contender in the Marmonte this season. Let's take a look back at 2002.

During the third year of the 21st century, Kmart filed for bankruptcy, the Anaheim Angels won the World Series and Calabasas High entered the Marmonte League for girls' tennis.

Ever since, the other seven teams in the league have been doomed as the Coyotes have won six straight league titles and haven't lost a single league match.

"Calabasas is Calabasas," Simi Valley head coach Rob Wickwire said. "Every year it seems like they keep getting more great players."

Moorpark head coach Sandy Jacobs agreed.

"Calabasas is always so good because they have so much depth," Jacobs said. "It's going to be tough for other teams to be in the mix for the top spot."

Calabasas head coach Cleo Harper, a longtime assistant who takes over the girls' squad for the first time this season, said the reason for the Coyotes' success is how he trains his players.

"It's all about development here," Harper said. "I consider the junior varsity team an extension of the varsity squad.

"The newcomers practice with the varsity team right from the beginning. They're all learning the same things every day. By the time the freshmen are juniors, I expect them to be ready to play varsity tennis," the coach said.

The Coyotes, once again favorites for a league title, will be led by No. 1 singles player Sabrina Man-Son-Hing, a senior. Junior Florence Hernandez is the team's No. 2 singles player, while sophomore Emily Weisberg is No. 3.

The Coyotes' doubles aren't too shabby, either. Seniors Amy Rebhun, Candace Goodman and Carissa Villalobos all have game.

Although Calabasas is the favorite, Thousand Oaks will have a chance to take the title away. The singles players at TOHS may be even stronger than the Coyotes' thanks to the return of junior Tara Erb, senior Hilary Koenig and sophomore Veronica Lin.

"Primarily, the singles are what's going to carry us," TOHS head coach Dave Assorson said. "Tara (Erb) is bigger and stronger and should be one of the best players in Ventura County."

The Lancers' double teams will be led by seniors Hussari Nuristani and Ashley King, as well as sophomores Kathryn Stueckle and Christina Hempill.

The biggest surprise of 2007 was Simi Valley, who had its best season in years and finished tied for third place. The Pioneers look to be strong again with the Wilson sisters, junior Tianna and freshman Linsey, who will be the squad's top singles players.

Senior Jessica Phan will also contribute on the singles side for Simi, while sophomore Katie Crilley and seniors Angelica Carranza and Lexie Daniels are excellent doubles players.

"We beat Westlake and Thousand Oaks last year for the first time in a long while," Wickwire said. "Our confidence is very high, and we're looking to make the playoffs once again."

This year's surprise team could be Moorpark, which has one of the best freshmen in the area in Kristina Eisenbrand.

Eisenbrand "is a ranked player in Southern California and is going to be very tough to beat," Moorpark head coach Sandy Jacobs said. "She has a very good serve and good ground strokes."

Eisenbrand and La Reina transfer Zoe Sophos should win a lot of points for the Musketeers.

The MHS doubles will be led by juniors Keiko McNamara and Chrissy Jacobs. Senior Tiffany Dam and freshman Clara Chen will also contribute.

Westlake should be in the hunt for a playoff spot thanks to the return of seniors Lauren Schwartz and Rachel Bitter playing singles.

Doubles play for the Warriors will be led by senior Chelsea Reynolds and junior Tiffany Loh.

Head coach Connie Flanderka, who's been at the helm for WHS since the school opened, said her team has a bright future.

"We don't have a real highranked player, but we do have a well-rounded team," Flanderka said. "Our junior varsity team also beat Calabasas twice last year, so we're looking pretty good."

Royal finished in sixth place in '07 and will look to improve with two solid singles players in senior Cassie Johnson and sophomore Claire Palmer. Senior Abigail Windle will serve as the team's No. 3 singles player.

Head coach Jane Forrester likes her team's singles players, but expects the majority of the points to come from doubles. The RHS doubles are led by juniors Anne Carman and Amanda Baltazar, as well as senior Lisa Carter.

Agoura is guided by first-year head coach Susie Cook, who said, "The team is playing with some fire not seen in a few years."

The Chargers' top singles are senior Kristiaan Hicks, junior Shera Feinstein and freshman Kelly Abas.

The AHS doubles teams include senior Jessica Bartlett, junior Leah Setar and sophomores Kelsey Wisdom and Taylor Wong.

Newbury Park lost Taylor French, one of the area's best players, to graduation but gained Sabrina Gutierrez, a junior transfer from Calabasas. Gutierrez will be the Panthers' top singles player, followed by sophomore Brittany Brown and junior Amanda Vu.

The Panthers' doubles include seniors Rachel Hymes and Haleigh Salvage, as well as juniors Melinda Weilage and Larisa Owechko.