
The Point Loma High School girls’ tennis team hopes to serve up an Eastern League title this season, and preparations are under way to make that happen. Under head coach Shannon Collins and assistant Mark Truver, the Lady Pointers have made a good showing in non-league matches to date. Home matches and practice sessions are played on Peninsula Tennis Club courts at Robb Field in Ocean Beach. The team’s top player, however, has to look elsewhere in search of a challenging practice partner. Senior Carley Cooke is ranked as the 112th Under-18 player in California. As the No. 1 singles player on the Lady Pointers’ roster, nobody on the team can offer her an adequate workout. “Carley usually checks in here (at Robb Field) and then goes over to the Barnes Tennis Center looking for someone to play against,” Truver said. In a recent non-league match against Our Lady of Peace Academy, Cooke easily defeated her three opponents, earning all three possible team points. In high school tennis matches, each team offers three singles players and three doubles teams. This creates 18 matches — nine singles and nine doubles. The winner of each match scores a point for the team, making 18 possible points. “I’d say it’s great working with the team, getting to play a bunch of different players at different levels,” Cooke said. The Pointers’ quest for a league crown was made more difficult when it was scheduled to play Patrick Henry earlier this month on the first day of classes. The Patriots, last year’s Eastern League champs, defeated the visiting Point Loma squad. The rematch at Robb Field on Sept. 30, however, could determine this year’s champion. Senior Alice Hewitt is the No. 2 singles player, who Collins said is returning with a vengeance after not playing last year. Carolina Saboya, Ashley Barandiaran, Riley Hasche and Lucy Chernow — all seniors in their fourth seasons with the team — are good competitors who look forward to match days, Collins said. Hasche, an excellent athlete in Collins’ eyes, may receive a pole-vaulting scholarship. Juniors Jasmine Zepeda and Lindsey McKay make up the No. 1 doubles team for the Pointers. Juniors Katherine Riley and Sara Fisher, who are each in their third year with the program, bolster the team. Collins said sophomore Alexa Rowland has shown great improvement, while freshman Rochelle Mooney has good potential. She said another freshman, Kate Schabarum, has a winning attitude and will lead the team in the future. “I think we’re doing really well so far,” Cooke said, “and we should win a bunch of matches. We’ll definitely have a better chance to beat Patrick Henry (in the rematch),” Cooke predicted. That’s a test the Lady Pointers hope to ace. The Point Loma High girls’ tennis team is online at www.pointlomaten nis.vnsports.com.
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