By ARTHUR HSIEH | Photo courtesy of Tom McGuinness It was Senior Day, as the Lady Minutemen celebrated the careers of Rose Zhang, Stella Wang, and Molly Mittelberg. Zhang, a 4-year varsity player, Wang, a 3-year varsity player, and Mittelberg, a 1st year player were honored and given tribute, as they took home court for the […]
By ARTHUR HSIEH | Photo courtesy of Tom McGuinness
It was Senior Day, as the Lady Minutemen celebrated the careers of Rose Zhang, Stella Wang, and Molly Mittelberg. Zhang, a 4-year varsity player, Wang, a 3-year varsity player, and Mittelberg, a 1st year player were honored and given tribute, as they took home court for the last time during a regular season league match. Today also marked the ’18 head coaching debut of Coach Sandra Hsieh, who was named head coach for the day.
As is often the case on Senior Day, playing in front of friends and family, nerves kicked in a little, resulting in the Wang and Zhang contributing 3 of the 4 losses. The normally reliable Wang, who entered the contest with an undefeated league record (21-0), was a bit shaky, losing to WC’s #1 and 2, 4-6, 3-6, exactly reversing the scores from the last time she faced them. She did defeat the #3, 6-0 in the opening round.
Zhang, along with partner, Shuhan Yang, also won, 6-0, in the first round before losing a nail-biter, 6-7(5) to the Heralds’ #1 team. They were subbed out in the third round in order to let substitutes, Fay Sheng and Jasmine Chiu, get some playing time. Sheng/Chiu lost 1-6.
In singles, #1 and #2 Madison Kane and Malena Smith continued their undefeated league dominance by going, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 respectively.
In doubles, #1 Michael Wilkins/Aria Haver-Hill also continued their undefeated league dominance, going 6-1, 6-0, 6-0. At the #3 slot, in order to start senior, Molly Mittelberg, Coach Sandra moved usual starter, Amanda Yee, to the bench, and started Mittelberg along side Georgia Wilder for two sets. Wilder/Mittelberg dominated, 6-0, 6-0. Yee entered in the final round to face WC’s #1 team and won, 6-1.
With this victory, the Lady Minutemen secured their 6th outright Olympic League championship in 7 years. On Thursday, they also seek to record their 6th undefeated league season as they visit the Valley Christian Defenders for the league finale.
