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Published on 11/24/1999 All articles from this issue

St. Francis girls close out successful tennis season

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By Craig Wentz

Special to the Town Crier

Gary Dinneen has had his share of talented and successful teams as coach of the St. Francis High girls tennis program. However, few of these teams worked harder than this year's unit.

St. Francis (22-3) ended its season last Saturday after losing 6-1 to Monta Vista of Danville in the first round of the NorCal Championships in Alameda.

St. Francis qualified for NorCal because it was a Central Coast Section finalist this year. The Lancers played top seed Menlo for the CCS title Nov. 17 and lost 6-1 at Courtside Tennis Club in Los Gatos. It was Menlo's third straight CCS championship.

"We exceeded expectations this year, and I'm proud of their effort," said Dinneen, who has taken St. Francis to the CCS finals eight times in the past 12 years, winning four crowns. "This team has had a great work ethic. We're very young. "

Dinneen will have the core of this season's unit for next year as six of 10 players return in what could very well be a return trip to the CCS finals and another NorCal tournament berth.

In the CCS finals, the Lancers could only scratch out a victory at No. 1 doubles with the talented tandem of Sarah Delva and Sarah Collins, who won 6-1, 6-1. Dinneen said Delva and Collins are the only true doubles team in the section to play in the CCS individual tournament, which started play earlier this week.

"Menlo has a formidable team and we had to play our best match of the year," said Dinneen who also coaches the successful St. Francis boys' program. "They're solid up and down their lineup.

The Lancers made a lot of progress during the postseason and gained valuable confidence heading into next year. Add a plethora of returning talent and Dinneen just may be able to hoist the CCS championship trophy in the year 2000.