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Cougar Tennis Team Eases Past Rion Christian
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Getting on the court for just one match this week, the Cougars put it in the win column with a 6-1 Trans-Valley League victory over Ripon Christian on Wednesday, April 6.

"It looks like it was an easy one but, if you were there, we battled for the 6-1 win, many of the scores were close," said coach Dan Thompson.

Grant Tower had the easiest of the matches on the afternoon, cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Mitchel Kirk. Tyson Lane was a winner at number two singles, 6-4, 7-6(4) over Rob Brown.

"Grant is coasting, Tyson was a little bit rusty, I think the spring break layoff hurt him a little bit but he was able to take his match," said Thompson.

In girls singles, Stacy Viss took Ripon Christian's only win of the day, defeating Breanne Cardoza, 6-4, 6-3.

"She played a really good match, I'm proud of Breanne's play, even though she took the loss," Thompson noted.

Coming through with a hard-fought victory in girls number two singles was Brittany Rigg, defeating Stacy Dendulk, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

"I was impressed the most by her that day, she won her first set, lost the second and then was down 5-2 in the third before she came back to win it, 7-5," explained Thompson. "She was definitely the MVP of the day."

In mixed doubles, Rick Drewrey and Tiffany McGuire fought off Alex Crawford and Antoinette Strong, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(3).

"They took it to a tiebreaker and, the Ripon Christian girl collided at one point with her partner and broke a tooth," said Thompson. "We took an injury time out and she was able to keep playing but we won the match."

Girls doubles saw Chelsea Davis paired with Coral Rocha and they won 6-6, 6-2 over Janna Van Houten and Bryanna Kamper.

"Chelsea got some revenge out there, she had lost to Ripon Christian previously in singles play so she teamed with Coral in doubles," Thompson said. "Coral is doing great, she's undefeated in girls doubles."

Boys doubles Robert Stocks and Brandon Longstreth had a tough match but came away with the win, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 over Chris Castellanos and Jody Hoag.

"They were battling, it looked like they were going to drop it," said Thompson.

The Cougars, however, claimed the contest and improved to 5-0 in league play for the season.

"A win's a win," said Thompson. "I'd just like to get back on the practice court, the kids are getting rusty."

Weather permitting, the Cougars will try to get three contests in this week. They were scheduled to play at Patterson on Tuesday, April 12, after The Times went to press. They will host Riverbank in a make-up match on Wednesday, April 13 and Thompson is hoping to get a make-up match with Livingston on Friday, April 15.

By MARG JACKSON