By ARTHUR HSIEH After knocking on the door against upper division non-league opponents all season, Maranatha was seeking to finally break through against the Bulldogs of Pasadena, a team they had lost to in a 9-9 tie the previous season. Expecting only 3-4 points from their singles line-up, Coach Arthur Hsieh issued the challenge to […]
By ARTHUR HSIEH
After knocking on the door against upper division non-league opponents all season, Maranatha was seeking to finally break through against the Bulldogs of Pasadena, a team they had lost to in a 9-9 tie the previous season. Expecting only 3-4 points from their singles line-up, Coach Arthur Hsieh issued the challenge to a doubles squad that has been extremely erratic so far this season. If MHS was to come out with the victory, doubles would have to carry out what they had not been able to do all season … until today.
Playing inspired and focused tennis, along with a strategic line-up change, the doubles squad prevailed in 7 of 9 sets, including the final set that clinched the deciding 10th point.
The score was 3-3 after the first round, with doubles sweeping for the first time this season. Down, 4-5, the new #1 team of Maddie Hernandez and Malena Smith, recovered to win, 7-5. New #2’s, Hellen Hong and Stella Wang won their opener, 6-4, while #3 Reagan Atallah and Rose Zhang prevailed, 6-3.
MHS pulled ahead, to 7-5 in the second round with wins from #1 singles, Angela Hsieh, 6-2, Hernandez /Smith, 6-3, Hong/Wang, 6-3, and new #2 singles, Michael Wilkins, 6-1.
With Hsieh and Hernandez/Smith winning their sets convincingly, 6-0 and 6-1, the Lady Minutemen had secured at least a tie. All eyes were on Atallah’s and Zhang’s court against the Bulldogs #2 doubles team. With a 3-2 lead, Atallah/Zhang staved off a few game points that would have put the set at 3-3. Instead, they pulled ahead, 4-2, and finished the job with a 6-2 victory, giving Maranatha the 10-8 victory.
Is this the real Lady MInutemen or is it the team that gave a victory away the previous week against South Pasadena? Time will tell.
Maranatha opens up Olympic League play on the road Thursday against the Valley Christian Crusaders, seeking to begin the journey of reclaiming the Olympic League crown that they surrendered last season after four consecutive league titles.
