Kate Mazza get clinching point as Lady Pirates down Clovis West 5-2 in championship match
The Santa Ynez High girls tennis team captured the school’s second CIF Central Section championship in two weeks, beating Clovis West 5-2 in the Division II championship match Tuesday, Nov. 12, on the SYHS courts.
Kate Mazza got the final point, wrapping up her 6-2, 6-2 match at No. 3 singles to clinch the Pirates’ match and championship, which brought celebration and the abrupt end to the two matches still going on.
The title win came 13 days after the Santa Ynez High girls golf team successfuly defended its CIF title won last year.
Santa Ynez got wins in the Nos. 2 to 4 singles to get the five points needed to clinch the match. In addition to Mazza at No. 3, Haley Townes won her match 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2, and Natalie O’Shaughnessy went 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4.
The Pirates began the match by taking two of three in doubles. Townes and Keegan Withrow won their No. 1 doubles match 8-2, and Mazza and O’Shaughnessy took an 8-3 win at No. 2.
“The team showed incredible grit and teamwork throughout the match,” said girls tennis head coach Jennifer Rasmussen.”Haley and Keegan faced a tough start, dropping the first two games. But they didn’t back down — winning eight straight games to seal their victory.
“Our senior duo, Natalie and Kate, showed their experience and leadership, dominating their match 6-3 to set the tone.”
The championship win was a glorious end to a season that saw the Pirates struggle at times as they scheduled competitive preseason opponents and then played in a tough Mountain League. However, the came into the Division 2 tournament as the top seed, and showed it in the first two rounds, beating Righetti High and Justin Garza High by identical 9-0 scores.
“We had a difficult schedule, but we just kept playing the best that we could, and I knew it would prepare for the postseason,” Rasmussen said.
After the first two rounds, Santa Ynez ran into a competitive opponent in Garces Memorial, whom it beat 5-3 in the semifinals.
“We breezed through those first two rounds, but we had a tough match against Garces,” the coach said. “We pulled that out, but they had some solid players and a couple of those matches could have gone either way.”
But things went the Pirates way in that match and continued on to the championship match.
“Every single player gave it their all, and their determination, drive, and teamwork were truly inspiring,” Rasmussen said.”This victory is a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the season.
We couldn’t be prouder of these incredible athletes.”
O’Shaughnessy and Withrow advance in CIF doubles
O’Shaughnessy and Withrow competed in the indiviual doubles tournament in San Luis Obispo and will play Sectional CIF Individual Doubles Tournament next weekend in Clovis.
The duo defeated Misamore/Camacho (Nipomo) 8-3 and White/Arias (Lompoc) 6-1, 6-3 on Nov. 8 in SLO.
