Tigers beat Sunnyside in Central Section tennis to advance to semi-finals

While Lemoore’s top two aces lost their matches, the remainder of the team managed to hold on for the win. Kaitlin  Raulino, the Tigers ace, lost to Sunnyside’s Wendy Her 1-6, 1-6., and No. 2 Tiger Serena Mendoza lost to Mai Pa Kue Yang 1-6, 0-6.

Helena Cavero won a tie-breaker to win her singles match against Sunnyside. The Tigers will play in the team semi-finals on Wednesday.

Photo by Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com

“There were some really close matches,” said Tiger Coach Carla Bow, “and the girls showed a lot of mental strength to win their matches. This was a great team victory. People really stepped up where they needed to.”

Cynthia Moreno, Lemoore’s No. 3 Tiger managed to turn the tide when she beat Sunnyside’s Linda Thai 6-3, 6-3, and No. 4 Tiger Helena Cavero went 2-6, 6-4 and won the super tie break 10-6.

Madison Kuntz kept the momentum going with her 6-0, 6-4 win, and come back of the day went to Annelisa Andrada in singles play who stayed on the court longer than any player, was down 0-3 in each set, but still managed to emerge victorious with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6(7-4) win. 

Her win put Lemoore up 4-2 going into doubles needing only one win to seal the victory.  They got that from the No. 3 doubles team of Valori Meraz and Lizeth Garcia who easily beat Sunnyside 6-2,6-1. 
The No. 1 doubles of Raulino, Moreno struggled and lost 3-6,4-6.

The final match of the night was in No. 2 doubles action featuring Mendoza and Kuntz who fell in the first set 2-6 but turned the match around and won the second 6-0. The duo’s match was decided by a super tie breaker that they won 10-3 to hand Lemoore the 6-3 victory.

The Tigers will head into individual play Friday and Saturday before returning to Lemoore for the semis next Wednesday.