Tennis

Daily Journal



For the first time in recent memory, the Notre Dame-Belmont tennis team had a top-three finish in the West Catholic Athletic League individual tournament.



The Tigers’ No. 3 seed doubles team of Laura Galijan and Sharlene Chang won the third-place match Thursday at Cuesta Park in Mountain View, defeating Mitty’s No. 5 seeded team of Esther Walker and Maya Raman, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.



It was a gutty performance from Galijan and Chang, who played No. 1 and 2 singles throughout the regular season before deciding to team together to play doubles for the league tournament. In their quarterfinal match Wednesday, the Notre Dame duo beat the No. 6 seeded team from St. Ignatius.



It’s no coincidence the Tigers are enjoying a tennis resurgence since Levine took over the head-coaching duties. He made it a point to get his girls physically stronger and fitter, and the results have shown on the court. Notre Dame has made the Central Coast Section playoffs the last two years and should receive an at-large bid again this season.







SJ Mercury





Girls tennis

West Catholic

individual finals

At Cuesta Park

Singles

Semifinals — Chui (St. Francis) d. Davis (Archbishop Mitty) 6-1, 6-1; Polayes (Archbishop Mitty) d. Yam (Archbishop Mitty) 7-5, 6-2.

Finals — Chui (SF) d. Polayes (AM) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Third place — Yam (AM) d. Davis (AM) 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles

Semifinals — Closs-Pratt (St. Francis) d. Chang-Galijan (Notre Dame-Belmont) 6-2, 6-1; Vanooteghem-Yudkevich (Archbishop Mitty) d. Walker-Raman (Archbishop Mitty) 6-3, 6-1.

Finals — Closs-Pratt (SF) d. Vanooteghem-Yudkevich (AM) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.

Third place — Chang-Galijan (ND-B) d. Walker-Raman (AM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.





Palo Alto Daily News



...The first set was hotly contested, so much so that a neutral referee was called in to settle any dispute. Notre Dame-Belmont coach Jason Levine did most of the referee duties the rest of the afternoon. Chui led 5-4 in the second set, but Polayes responded to even it at 5-5. Polayes hit some searing shots that Chui had to hustle to return and vice-versa. Chui was adept at lobbing deep, which allowed her to get to the middle of the baseline and gear up for whatever Polayes offered.





In the third set, Chui ended a long rally with a passing forehand, then won another rally with a volley at the net. Chui got up 5-0, but had her serve broken. The match ended on a long hit by Polayes.



Junior Angela Pratt and freshman Mary Closs of St. Francis captured the WCAL doubles title, defeating Mitty’s Tara Vanooteghem and Maggie Yudkevich 6-0, 2-6, 6-2. Pratt and Closs had handled Notre Dame-Belmont’s Sharlene Chang and Laura Galijan 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals.



“We were excited about being in the final,” Pratt said. “We relaxed some in that second set and they started getting their shots in.”



Closs is a southpaw who works well at the net. Pratt, who is right-handed, is more effective working the baseline. “Her being left-handed and me being right-handed gives us two forehands in the middle of the court,” Pratt said.



“Pratt is a good server and has good returns,” Closs said. “That sets up a lot of my volleys at the net.”



Chang and Galijan — both juniors — bested Mitty’s Maya Raman and Esther Walker 76 (7-4), 6-4 in the third-place doubles match.



“We had great communication out there,” Galijan said. “That really helped us.”