Re-Cap of Round of 16 L.A. C.I.F. City Section Doubles Championships 12/3/10

Congratulations to Melissa Garibay & Rebeca Rodriguez for advancing to the Quarterfinals of the L.A. C.I.F. City Section Doubles Championships at Balboa Tennis Center in Encino, CA. Out of close to 500 doubles players in the entire City Section, Garibay & Rodriguez now find themselves among the final 8 tandems standing.

After receiving a 1^st round bye, Garibay & Rodriguez awaited the winner from the previous round’s match that pitted Manual Arts and Marine League Rival, Carson.  After the squad from Carson advanced easily on Wednesday, December 1^st, the showdown was set, in a rematch of the Inaugural Marine League Doubles Championship between Champions, Melissa Garibay & Rebeca Rodriguez of Banning, versus runners-up, Patricia Guray & Krizelle Magdirilia of Carson.

Although Garibay & Rodriguez won the previously mentioned championship match with relative ease, they knew that the Colts’ fighting spirit and reputation would lead to a challenging match.  Although their familiarity with their opponents created an advantage, it also inherently created the same disadvantage: their opponents also knew them.  In what had started to become typical fashion, of falling behind early, Garibay & Rodriguez quickly found themselves down, losing the first set 6-2.  However, overcoming that slow start, and repeating the pattern of slow starts followed by dominant endings, Garibay & Rodriguez got hot, winning 10 of the next 12 games, taking the 2^nd set 6-1 & building a commanding 3^rd set lead at 4-1.

Carson would not go down easily, however, and after taking the next two games, they trailed 3-4 and reached what would prove to be THE critical juncture in the match.  Facing what had been a dominant serving day from Rodriguez, the Colts took 3 of the first 4 points in the game, creating two break opportunities at 15-40, to get themselves back even in the match.  Rodriguez & Garibay, however, had no intention of extending the match any further, winning the next 4 points in a row, to take the game & end the Colts’ momentum.  They broke the Colt’s serve in the 9^th game to take 3^rd set 6-3, and won the match.

According to L.A. C.I.F. City Section Records, this is only the second time since 1976 that a doubles squad from Banning has advanced this far in the tournament.  (The other occurrence came in 2007: Nancy Melgoza & Cinthya Monroy).  Additionally, since at least 1999, this is also the 1^st time that a Banning opponent has defeated a Carson opponent more than once in the same season, as Garibay & Rodriguez defeated Carson THREE times, including once in the regular season, once during the Marine League Championships, as well as today in the C.I.F. City Section Doubles Championships.

Congratulations once again, to Melissa Garibay & Rebeca Rodriguez for this tremendous achievement! Go Pilots!

Box Score

GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS MATCH 12/3/10

L.A. C.I.F. CITY SECTION DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND OF 16