By Lacy Cano
Staff Writer
The Mira Costa girls tennis team clinched a CIF berth with its Oct. 31 victory at Redondo Union High School.
After having a rough patch late in the season, the Mustangs redeemed themselves when it counted most and beat Redondo with an 11-7 win.
“This win gives us a lot of momentum going into CIF,” sophomore Sidney Ascher said.
The team ends its season with an overall record of 10-8-1 and a Bay League record of 4-3. The girls are now propelled into the first round of CIF.
“We’ve just got to take it one round at a time and make adjustments along the way,” assistant coach Mark McGuire said.
Sophomore Paula Cenusa led Costa against Redondo Union, sweeping her sets by scores of 6-0, 6-2 and 6-0.
“I feel that I have improved tremendously this season,” Cenusa said. “I am excited for what is to come in CIF.”
The team’s singles players, Cenusa, junior Hanna McGuire and junior Taylor Klein, won seven out of nine singles sets.
“Our singles players are always phenomenal,” freshman Mai Nojima said.
Despite a loss to the same opponent earlier in the season, Hanna McGuire defeated Redondo’s top player, Erin Shy.
“Costa pulled out some big victories,” Redondo coach Jessica Seibert said. “They capitalized in the key moments of the match.”
The match fueled the girls into the Bay League singles individual CIF play-offs where Cenusa, McGuire and junior Maegan Manasse competed on Nov. 2 at the Jack Kramer Club in Palos Verdes. McGuire and Cenusa both lost in the first round by scores of 8-1 and 8-0, respectively.
“It was tough competition,” Cenusa said. “I’m confident that I played my best and even though I lost, it was a step forward in my tennis career.”
Manasse won her first match against Erin Shy from Redondo by a score of 8-0, the second against Peninsula’s Jasmine Hosseni, 6-1 and 6-1, and the third against Riley Morgan from Palos Verdes by a score of 6-0 and 6-1.
“I played really well today,” Manasse said.
Manasse competed on Nov. 3 for the final round of singles; however, results were unavailable due to time of publication.
Doubles pairs Hanna McGuire and Cenusa, Carly McGuire and Alex Waller, and Ascher and Nojima competed in the league doubles finals on Nov. 3 at the Jack Kramer Club. The match’s results were not available due to time of publication.
The Mustangs have never made it past the CIF quarterfinals. The girls next match will take place on Nov. 10 with time and opponent to be announced.
“If the girls want to perform well in CIF, they must block out all external pressures and focus on one match at a time,” assistant coach Arthur Kim said.
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