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RHS girls tennis beats Valley League favorite

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By Bill Tamburrino

Ramona High School’s girls tennis team got off to a busy and successful start with two wins in its first week by beating Del Norte and Brawley High Schools, but lost a tough match to Mt. Carmel High School.

In the second week of the season, the Lady Dawgs lost two non-league matches.

The team opened its season on the road by beating Valley League favorite, Del Norte, 10-8. It was the first league win for the Bulldog girls in two years. After two years of competing in the Palomar League, Ramona is now in the Valley League in every sport but football.

The No. 1 doubles team of Rebecca Vaca and Lauren Dunker was the key in the victory. Vaca and Dunker were the only Bulldogs to win all three sets as they went 6-4, 7-6, and 6-2. In their match against Josephine Wu and Natalie Barrants the duo fell behind 3-5 and rallied to win the tiebreaker and post a 7-6 win for the pivotal team point.

Taylor Jennings and Cassidy Owens lost a tiebreaker 6-7, won a set 7-5, and finished with a 4-6. Brie Frandsen and Kacie Jordan went 4-6, 6-1, and 6-4 to pick up two team points.

No. 1 singles player Dayna Lake went 1-6 and then rallied to post two bagels with identical scores of 6-0 for two team points. Amanda Massey took one set with scores of 0-6, 1-6, and 6-2. Jessie Mosser also picked up a valuable team point by posting scores of 0-6, 2-6, and 6-2.

“That was a great way to start our season. Del Norte was picked to win the league and we didn’t have a non-league match to get ready for league,” said Coach Doug Failla.

The Lady Dawgs won their home opener by beating Brawley in a non-league match 14-4.

In singles action Lake went 6-1 and 6-0 . Kelly Gallagher then went 5-7 in the No. 1 singles slot. Massey picked up a team point by going 6-7, 4-6, and 6-3. Jessie Mosser picked up a point by going 6-1. Ellen Douglas went 0-6 and 6-2.

The Bulldog doubles teams won all nine doubles points. Vaca and Dunker picked up three sets with scores of 6-1, 6-4, and 6-0. Jennings and Owens went 6-2, 6-2, and 6-1. Frandsen and Jordan went 6-4, 6-4, and 6-0.

Ramona finished the week by dropping a close match to former Palomar League foe Mt. Carmel, 10-8 at home.

Lake won three points by winning a tight 7-5 set and rallying for marathon tiebreaker 7-6 (9-7) and then going 6-1. Massey picked up a team point by going 4-6, 0-6, and 6-1. Mosser played one set and went 1-6. Gallagher turned in scores of 0-6 and 6-0.

Vaca and Dunker continued to play solid in doubles action as they took two sets with scores of 3-6, 6-4, and 6-3. Jennings and Owens carded scores of 1-6, 1-6, and 6-2. Frandsen and Jordan went 0-6, 2-6, and 5-7.

In week two the Bulldog girls finished with a match at Carlsbad High School. The Lancers won 12-6.

Lake went 6-3, 0-6, and 0-6. Douglas won a tough set 7-6 and then went 4-6 and 1-6. Massey recorded scores of 0-6, 5-7, and 0-6.

In doubles action, Vaca and Dunker went 6-1, 4-6, and 1-6. Jennings and Owens posted scores of 0-6, 2-6, and 6-2. Jordan and Frandsen were the only players to win two team points as they went 6-0, 2-6, and 6-1.

Failla was pleased with his entire team’s performance and was especially pleased with his No. 1 doubles team.

Last season Vaca and Dunker were doubles partners for most of the season and held down the No. 3 spot in the lineup.

Dunker, a junior, started playing at age 5, began taking lessons at age 10, and played junior varsity as a freshman.

“Rebecca and I played well in practice and got along well from the beginning. We enjoy playing together,” said Dunker.

Vaca is a sophomore and feels that both her and Dunker have improved greatly since last season. Vaca started playing when she was 6 years old.

“My sister (Rachel) played and I did what every little sister does. I tagged along and started playing too,” she said.

Both Vaca and Dunker played together in the off season.

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