Mira Mesa, Eastlake make program history at CIF girls tennis championships

On one of her first days at Mira Mesa High School, then-freshman Samantha Truong wandered into the gym, looking for a CIF girls tennis championship banner hanging on a wall.

Said Truong, now a senior, “I never saw one.”

That’s because in the school’s 50-year history, the Marauders never won a section girls title.

Until Saturday.

As a sun-kissed morning leaked into afternoon, Mira Mesa set history in dominating fashion, defeating Christian 13-5 to win the school’s first girls tennis championship at the Barnes Tennis Center.

“It feels incredible,” said Truong.

Said fellow senior Allison Ly: “Part of me can’t believe it’s real.”

Truong and Ly, who both played four years of varsity tennis, led the way against Christian, both winning all three singles sets. Truong, who won the City League singles championship, swept her matches 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. Ly won 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.

The Marauders were guided by first-year coach Leo Agra, himself a tennis professional. His first team finished the season 14-0.

Breaking down Truong’s game, Agra said, “She has variety. She can slice. She can hit drop shots. She controls points with her forehand. Basically, she’s a good all-around player.”

On Ly, Agra said, “She hits with a lot of heavy spin. She’s consistent on both ends, forehand and backhand.”

For Christian, Mike Folsom coached his 20th season at the private school in El Cajon. Not only was it the Patriots’ first appearance in the finals, it marked the first time the team advanced past the second round.

LJCD takes D1 crown

La Jolla Country Day won the last two matches of the night to tie rival La Jolla 9-9 at the Barnes Tennis Center, then won the Div. 1 title on total games won, 74-64.

It’s the Torreys’ second straight D1 crown and 10th section title all-time.

Freshman Grace Wu capped the victory by winning the last singles set 6-0. The Torreys’ doubles teams set the stage for the win, earning seven points.

As he did last year, head coach Mike Reisinger promised his team he would shave his beard if the team won a section title. Asked if he’ll keep his word, Reisinger said, “Of course. That was the deal. That’s the standing deal.”

Eastlake captures Division 2 title

Eastlake senior Andrea DelCastillo won all three singles sets to lead Eastlake past San Marcos. In the format that features three singles players and three doubles teams playing a one-set round robin, the teams tied in sets won, 9-9.

The Titans claimed the Division 2 title based on total games won, 73-68.

San Marcos led 9-8 with the last doubles match to be played. Eastlake junior Erina Tsuya knew she and freshman teammate Adelina Macedo needed to pull off the set. Macedo thought Eastlake had already clinched the win. The pair had lost their first two sets.

Tsuya didn’t let Macedo know what was at stake.

“I didn’t want to put pressure on her,” said Tsuya. “I felt if we both knew (they needed to win) we would have gone in a downward plunge.”

The pair won the deciding set 6-2.

“I think a lot of it was just trust,” said Tsuya.

“One player or one team never loses the match,” Eastlake coach Fernando Mendez said. “But one team or one player can win the match.”

The section title was the second in school history, the other coming in 2014.

“We set history,” said Macedo.

The win came one day before DelCastillo’s 18th birthday.

“It’s a birthday gift to me to win,” said DelCastillo.