Bishop Diego girls tennis pulled out a dramatic victory in the CIF-SS Div. 8 championship against Santiago High on Wednesday at the Claremont Club.
After the two sides were squared up at 9-9 in terms of sets won at the end of play, the Cardinals came out on top thanks to a 78-71 advantage in games.
“At the end of round three, everyone gathered around the CIF scorers’ table for the final tally in games won,” Bishop Diego head coach Peter Kirkwood said. “Pandemonium ensued after the announcement and it will be a day not forgotten in the laurels of Bishop Diego Girls Tennis history.
“I don’t care what the level is or the sport. To be a champion, you have to have the heart of a champion. I’d say we proved that we have that heart more than once during this surreal run to the title.”
Natalie Chan led the way as she has all season for the Cardinals, going 3-0 in singles play without dropping a single game. Her fellow singles standout, Haley Hubbs, also had a strong match with a pair of victories.
“The first two rounds were going the way we’ve seen them go, with Natalie and Haley winning big and one of the doubles winning,” Kirkwood said.
“We got our first taste of adversity when we only took one set in singles in the last round. With Haley coming through for us all year long, she ran into a player who played the set of her life against her in round three.”
In doubles play, the duos of Avery Carter/Rafaela Fay and Victoria Heredia/Sonia Marquez-Miranda each went 2-1 to give Bishop Diego its nine total points.
The doubles pairings came through in the clutch, as the Cardinals were on the ropes facing a 9-7 deficit with two matches to go. Carter/Fay battled to a 6-2 win, and Heredia/Marquez-Miranda sent the match to the scoring table with a comeback tiebreaking victory.
“They played with such poise under pressure and the pressure couldn’t have been greater,” Kirkwood said of his duos.
While they did not win a set, Lindsey Doyle and the duo of Annebelle Liu/Sophia Ramazani each picked up crucial games to clinch the win.
“I’m not surprised we hung in there because this team really believed we were going to win,” Kirkwood said. “I’m overwhelmed that we did, but this team really is something special. It was all for one, one for all out there today.
“I’m so happy for the Seniors who put in the time over the years to make this happen. Haley, Rafaela, Avery and Sonia will go down as one of, if not the top, eras ever for Bishop Diego Girls Tennis.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding seasons I have had as a coach with the improvement we had in hitting the ball, learning how to compete and overcome obstacles and just dreaming big.”
Chan, Hubbs, Carter and Fay will continue their seasons when they represent Bishop Diego at the CIF-SS Individual Tournament on Monday.