Sep 5, 2008

Super sophs lead Paly in opener

Vikings romp over Notre Dame-SJ with 'doughnuts' in 11 of 14 sets

By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer

The girls tennis season could not have started much better for Palo Alto.

The Vikings swept Notre Dame-San Jose 7-0 in a home non-league match Thursday to begin a season that has high hopes for the present and future. Three of the top four singles players for Palo Alto are sophomores, as are the No. 3 doubles team.

"The girls performed well, as I expected," Vikings seventh-year coach Andy Harader said. "It was a great warm-up match. We should have a great season."

Vikings sophomore Janet Liu defeated the Regents' Nancy Nguyen 7-6, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.

"It was a competitive first set," Harader said. "Their No. 1 player was pretty good. Janet picked it up toward the end of the first set and played much bettter."

Every other match except No. 3 doubles ended in a 6-0, 6-0 score. Coming up with wins for the Vikings were No. 2 Emma Marti, No. 3 Vrinda Khanna and No. 4 Mira Khanna, the sophomore sister of senior Vrinda. Marti is a sophomore, as are the members of the No. 3 doubles team, Margo Gerould and Emily Efland, who won their match 6-1, 6-1.

Playing at No. 1 doubles for the Vikings were juniors Sophie Biffar and Gracie Dulik, while junior Christine Koepnick and senior Lisa Ke won at No. 2 doubles.

Harader is confident the Vikings can contend for a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division title. The league expanded this year to eight teams. There is a six-team SCVAL El Camino Division. The Vikings start De Anza play vs. Lynbrook-San Jose at home Sept. 16.

"Monta Vista and Saratoga are the teams we have to beat," Harader said. "I think we can challenge for the title."

The Vikings host St. Francis-Mountain View in a non-league match Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

"That should be a much more competitive match," Harader said.



E-mail John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com.