With a competitive class of incoming freshmen joining an already strong sophomore core, the Los Banos High girls tennis team is set for a few years.</p><p>As for this year, the first test will be right off the bat when the Tigers travel to Central Catholic High in Modesto, the school Los Banos coach Lynn Barcellos believes to be her team's main competition for the Western Athletic Conference title.</p><p>"Depth-wise, we're very strong all the way down," Barcellos said. "We have a class of freshmen that I've been working with -- they've played before and they've experienced and played in tournaments. They also play traveling softball teams, so they have that experience when it comes to playing competition, which is huge."</p><p>With her daughter, sophomore Alexis Barcellos, leading the way, the Tigers shut out Atwater Aug. 31 at Los Banos High. Only one of the nine matches went to a third set, when Atwater's No. 1 doubles team of Kyara Villan and Laora Murl took a 7-5 second set from Los Banos' Kelly Younce and Jacquelin Arretche. Younce, a sophomore, and Arretche, a freshman, rebounded to win the third set 6-3.</p><p>"We're going to have a good next four years with our freshmen and sophomores," Barcellos said.</p><p>The Tigers also have a junior newcomer, Aidana Munoz, an exchange student from Spain. Munoz started the season in Los Banos' No. 3 slot.</p><p>"She's used to playing on clay. She's very steady," Barcellos said. "She doesn't hit a lot of power winners or anything, but she's a ball machine. She hits everything back top spin, just like you would on clay, and she just frustrates the other players."</p><p>For the freshman class, most of whom were on the Los Banos Tigers youth softball 14-and-under team that went to the Western National tournament over the summer, the depth of competitive experience in other sports has left them with a poise that makes Barcellos optimistic.</p><p>"They can focus. They're very steady. They're mentally a good, solid team," Barcellos said. "They haven't had a chance to play tennis matches, they've been playing softball, so this is a good chance, especially since we start right out of the gate with Central Catholic."</p><p>Added Younce, "We're a young team but a good team."</p><p>The biggest difference between last year's team, which finished 8-4 in Central California League play, is depth.</p><p>"Our 12, and even 14 or 15 are very strong. We can miss somebody and not have to worry about it," Barcellos said. "That was our disadvantage last year with Merced and Turlock, that was where they hurt us, was the last two or three doubles. We lost close games to them because of that. But this year, it's different because I have stronger doubles teams."</p><p>Below is a look at the 2010 Los Banos varsity girls tennis team.</p><p> Coach: Lynn Barcellos, 17th season.</p><p> Overall record in 2009: 13-6.</p><p> League record in 2009: 8-4.</p><p> Key players lost: Patty Ma, Alysha Martin, Erika Woodland, Kelsey Wormstall and Emily Buckley.</p><p> Returning starters: Alexis Barcellos, soph.; Christina Soares, soph.; Kelly Younce, soph.; Tiffany Liu, soph.; Taylor Mendez, jr.; Leah Overton, sr.; Anesa Dunn, jr.; Diandra Espinoza, sr.; Jenae Cardoza, sr.; and Samantha Fuller, sr.</p><p> Key newcomers: Nicole Marchese, fr.; Jacquelin Arretche, fr.; Monique Arretche, fr.; Bianca Soares, fr.; Elena Erreca, fr.; Taylor Harris, fr.; and Aidana Munoz, jr.</p><p>Enterprise reporter David Witte can be reached by phone at 388-6565 or by e-mail at sports@losbanosenterprise.com