The Olympic League Tournament is the season-ending tournament for the top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the league, each vying for a spot in the finals, which would qualify them to represent the Olympic League in the CIF Individuals tournament. This may be the premier high school team tennis tournament in the country, […]
The Olympic League Tournament is the season-ending tournament for the top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the league, each vying for a spot in the finals, which would qualify them to represent the Olympic League in the CIF Individuals tournament. This may be the premier high school team tennis tournament in the country, with the top 2 singles players and doubles teams from every league in the CIF Southern Section (all 5 divisions combined) coming together to compete to determine the best singles player and doubles team in CIF.
After the first day of league prelims today, the Lady Minutemen will fill 3 of the 4 available eligible CIF Individuals slots, as #1 seeded, Angela Hsieh, #3 seeded, Malena Smith, and #2 seeded Maddie Hernandez/Michael Wilkins all advanced to the league finals on Wednesday.
Singles Recap
On the first day of the two day Olympic League tournament, top seeded Angela Hsieh (43-5 overall, 27-0 in league) continued her league dominance by defeating #4 seeded Katia Diaz of Whittier Christian, 6-0-, 6-1 in the semi-finals.
In the other semi-finals singles match, #3 seeded Malena Smith (32-10, 20-4) avenged her 4-6 loss to #2 seeded Shiloh Moore of Whittier Christian in their last match to two weeks ago to decide the league’s team champions. Playing a steady and strategic game, Smith prevailed, 6-4, 6-4. It was Smith’s first time defeating Moore after 3 straight defeats during the season.
Doubles Recap
The #2 seeded Madelyn Hernandez/Michael Wilkins (33-9, 23-4) had easily the most exciting match of the day against Heritage Christian’s Geer/Debesirian. After losing a heart-breaking first set in a tie-breaker that went 9-11, Hernandez/Wilkins quickly went down 1-5 in the second set and were on the brink of elimination. They fought back, staving off match points along the way to even the score at 5-5, eventually winning the second set, 7-5. In the 3rd set Super Tie-break (up to 10 pts.) to determine who would advance to the finals and the CIF Individuals berth, the #2 seeds were down 6-8 before tying it 8-8. They then faced another match point at 8-9 before winning the final 3 pts. and coming away with the 11-9 win.
Singles Quarterfinals
#1 Angela Hsieh (43-5 overall, 27-0 in league ) Maranatha v. bye
#2 Shiloh Moore (Whittier Christian) d. #7 Kailane Kane (Valley Christian) 8-0
#3 Malena Smith (32-10, 20-4 – Maranatha) v. #5 Claire Miller (WC) 8-2
#4 Katia Diaz (WC) v. #6 Aria Haver-Hill (Maranatha – 13-7 in league) 8-3
Semi-finals
#1 Angela Hsieh (M) d. #4 Katia Diaz (WC) 6-0, 6-1
#3 Malena Smith (M) d. #2 Shiloh Moore (WC) 6-4, 6-4
Finals on Wed.
#1 Angela Hsieh (M) v. #3 Malena Smith (M)
Doubles Quarterfinals
#1 Sam Martinez/Jessica Maher (WC) d. #7 Lauren Bouma/Maya Archer (VC) 8-5
#2 Madelyn Hernandez/Michael Wilkins (M) d. #8 Laney Gradilla/Chloe Subia (WC) 8-2
#3 Lauren Geer/Amanda Debesirian (Heritage Christian) d. #6 Reagan Atallah/Rose Zhang (M) 8-1
#5 Abby Camrin/Sofia Struiksma (VC) d. #4 Juliette Moreno/Nikki Alvarez (WC) 8-2
Doubles Semifinals
#1 Martinez/Maher (WC) d. #5 Camrin/Struiksma (VC) 6-2, 6-3
#2 Hernandez/Wilkins (M) d. #3 Geer/Debesirian (H) 6-7 (9), 7-5, 11-9
Finals
#1 Martinez/Maher (WC) v. #2 Hernandez/Wilkins (M)
Opponents
Maranatha High School-1-3
Whittier Christian High School-2-1
