Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 10/05/1998 All articles from this issue

Season has been anything but easy for Los Altos

printer friendly version

By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

Girls Tennis Report

This hasn't been the easiest of seasons for coach Cuong Duong and his Los Altos High girls tennis team.

The Eagles have suffered more than their share of injuries and close losses this year.

"This season's taken a lot out of me," Duong said. "Going from league champion to the lower part of the league has been hard on me. It's been hard on the girls, too."

Los Altos entered the week with a 3-3 record in the SCVAL De Anza Division and were 5-5 overall. Last year, Los Altos lost just one division match and went 17-4 overall.

The Eagles' downfall has a lot to do with injuries to two key players, according to Duong. Senior Jennifer Alloo, the team's No. 2 singles player in 1997, and sophomore Julie Whitesell, half of last year's No. 1 doubles team, are both out the season with back injuries.

"Give me one of them and we'd be 9-1," Duong said. "With both of them, we'd probably be undefeated."

Without them, the Eagles have struggled - especially in tight matches.

"We hadn't pulled out a close one until (last Thursday) against Los Gatos," Duong said.

Los Altos squeaked by the visiting Wildcats 4-3 for the team's second straight win. The match was decided at No. 2 doubles, where Ikuyo Yamada and Bonnie Chen posted a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Los Altos' other wins that day came from Nicole Barrett and Katie Tuttle at No. 1 doubles, Lena Sherbakov at No. 1 singles and Billie Nguyen at No. 2 singles. All of them prevailed in straight sets.

Sherbakov and Nguyen have been the team's most consistent players this year, Duong said. Sherbakov, a sophomore, came into the week with a spotless 9-0 record. Nguyen, a senior, was 9-1 in singles and 1-0 in doubles.

Even though the rest of the Eagles' have had their ups and downs, Duong isn't giving up on the season. He still believes Los Altos has a shot at the playoffs.

"I think we'll need 9-10 wins to make it," Duong said. "That would mean winning at least four of our last six matches, which could happen."

The Eagles took on first-place St. Francis yesterday and have a bye Thursday.