Honkers doubled up by Live Oak on courts

There was no home-court advantage for the Willows High girls tennis team on Thursday, as visiting Live Oak took four of the six singles matches and handed the Honkers a 6-3 defeat in Willows.

Kylie Gammon, playing in the No. 2 slot, had very few problems besting Live Oak's Crystal Rodriguez, 6-2, 6-3.

Willows' other win in singles play came from freshman Stephanie Carrere in the sixth match, as she prevailed over Lupe Chavez 7-6 (5), 6-4 to claim her first varsity win.

Kaylen Wilson and Lucero Topete exchanged 6-4 wins in the first two game of their match on the ace court, with Wilson winning the second set to force a deciding third, but Topete downed her 6-0 to take the match.

In the other match-ups, Bisma Khan fell to Jacque Mullen, 2-6, 0-6; Cindy Vang was defeated 1-6, 1-6 by Andrea Long; and Hadya Khan was forced to retire in the second set of her match with an injury. The score at the time stood at 6-3, 0-2 with Yoli Arellano

Bisma Khan/Vang were beaten at second doubles 8-3 by Rodriguez/Long, and Carrere/Karina Diaz suffered a similar fate at third, losing 4-8 to Arellano/Chavez.

The Lady Honkers were able to avert a doubles sweep when Wilson/Gammon came back for an 8-6 victory over Topete/Mullen.

Live Oak is going to be one of the teams to beat for Willows, according to coach Don Byrd.

"Live Oak is the defending league and section champions," the coach said. "They lost just one player and are a big squad with a good core back and could do it again."

Willows is a young squad this season, with just three seniors in the top six on the current ladder, but a strong work ethic and sense of "team" could do much to combat their youthfulness.

"Wilson, Gammon, MacKenzie Gomes, Madison Arnold and Tara Pattison are all four-year players," the coach said, "but all the others are first- or second-year."

Byrd pointed out a strong cohesion among his players this season. "This is a good group of girls who are compatible with and work well with each other. They root for each other and study together - this is more of a 'family' than a team."

Sizing up the competition, Bird feels that along with Live Oak, Colusa and Wheatland are both very strong teams on paper. "Everybody has to get by Wheatland in the section finals," he said. "They returned everybody and had a good junior class. They are a very tough and athletic squad."

Of all his players, the coach believes Wilson is the best athlete in the SVL, saying, "She played the best over the summer, and worked out with the boys team in the spring."

But to a player, all the Honkers are serious about their games. "They're all giving me everything they can on the court," Byrd praised, "I never have to correct them for lack of effort."

The Honkers (1-2) travel to Gridley Tuesday.

Live Oak 6, Willows 3

Singles

Topete, LO, d. Wilson, W, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0; Gammon, W, d. Rodriguez, LO, 6-2, 6-3; Mullen, LO, d. B. Khan, W, 6-2, 6-0; Long, LO, d. Vang, W, 6-1, 6-1; Arelanno, LO, d. Khan, W, (retired 6-3, 0-2); Carrere, W, d. Chavez, LO, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Doubles

Wilson/Gammon, W, d. Topete Mullen, LO, 8-6; Rodriguez/Long, LO, d. B. Khan/Vang, W, 8-3; Arellano/Chavez, LO, d. Carrere/Diaz, W, 8-4.

Contact Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.