Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012

Los Banos tennis team outmatched at semi-finals

The Los Banos tennis team's season came to a crashing halt one match before the players expected it to in a 6-3 semifinal loss to Rio Americano Tuesday in Sacramento.

"They were pretty upset," Los Banos coach Lynn Barcellos said. "They really wanted to go all the way, but you know what, they played great. It was mostly seniors that were upset, because they knew it was their last match."

Los Banos' Nicole Marchese, Elena Erreca and the doubles team of Monique Arretche and Bianca Soares earned LB's three points. Rio Americano went on to lose to Bella Vista on Wednesday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship.

"Like I told them, if we were Division IV, we'd dominate, but they don't have Division IV," Barcellos said. "Rio has 1,800 students, 700 more than Los Banos, and we held our own very well, and we got a lot of positive acknowledgment for our team."

The loss came one day after LB defeated Benicia 7-2 in the quarterfinals. After talking with the players, the Tigers discovered Benicia has only one player that doesn't play tennis year-round.

"So for us to hold our own and only play the time that they play is pretty amazing," Barcellos said.

The Rio Americano loss was the Tigers' first team loss of the season, leaving them with a 21-1 record. Alexis Barcellos' 6-3, 6-3 loss to Rio Americana's Sydney Comelick at No. 1 singles gave her a 20-2 record this season, with her only other loss coming 6-2, 6-3 to Eirene Granvile of Inderkum in the quarterfinals of the SJS Division II singles tournament last week.

"It was a great season. Best season I've had in 19 years," Lynn Barcellos said. "This is a great group of girls, and I'm going to miss my seniors. Nobody gave up. Even against Rio, nobody gave up."

LB's doubles team of Christina Soares and Nicole Marchese also made the SJS quarterfinals before falling, while Tiffany Liu and Jacquelin Arretche fell in the first round.

Enterprise reporter David Witte can be reached by phone at 388-6565 or by e-mail at sports@losbanosenterprise.com

Enterprise reporter David Witte can be reached by phone at 388-6565 or by e-mail at sports@losbanosenterprise.com