Wildcats win four in a row
By Misty Volaski

The last four games have been sweet ones for Villanova's lady tennis crew. With wins over Bishop Diego (0-2), Thacher, (1-2), Pacifica (0-5) and Cate (0-2), the Wildcats are on a roll with a 5-1 overall record.

Last week's Bishop Diego match found 'Nova's doubles players sweeping all their sets. No. 1 doubles team Ariana Lujan and Sarah Roussin lost just three games on the day, while singles teammate Fernanda Zapata lost only one set to BDHS player Haley Neilsen, 7-5, in what Villanova coach Brian Grisin said was a close tiebreaker." The tiebreaker went back and forth, but Neilsen won the last four of six points to win the hard-fought battle.

Against rival Condor League team Thacher, Villanova came out on top with a 11-7 win. VPS's Niki Blumberg led the Wildcats, with a sweep of all her sets ( 6-0, 6-1, 6-2). Teammate Lauren Sims won her sets 6-0, 6-0 until she forfeited the last due to an ankle injury. Thacher's Ellen Adams, Virginia Dawson and Cara Bonetwitz each won two of their three sets as well.

"Ariana and Sarah played teriffic tennis after a slow start," Villanova's Grisin said. Though down 1-5 in the beginning, the girls won their final two sets, 6-0. 6-1.

Pacifica's Ariana Robles and Louise Qu gave VPS's doubles teams a tough time, besting two of the top three 'Cat duos. However, 'Nova pulled away for a 11-7 win. Niki Blumberg and doubles squad Jessica Campbell and Alexandra Gibbs saved the day for VPS, winning key matches that guaranteed a Villanova win.

Wednesday found the 'Cat ladies topping Condor Leaguers Cate, 11-7. Each 'Cat singles player swept her matches, helping the team to the win. Lujan and Roussin won two of their three doubles sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. It was a big win for Villanova, who lost to the then-undefeated Cate, 14-4 and 13-5 last year.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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