With the match knotted at four games apiece, Pitman High’s No. 2 doubles team of Mia Santoya and Natalie Simon delivered a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the Turlock tandem of Hillary Tamis and Mia Willoughby to help the Pride to a 5-4 Central California Athletic League win over their crosstown rival.
With the victory, Pitman improves to 6-3-1 overall and 7-2 in league play, while the Bulldogs dip to 5-8 and 4-5.
Each team has one league match remaining before the start of the CCAL tournament next week. Pitman plays host to Modesto on Thursday, while Turlock travels to face undefeated Gregori.
No. 1 singles player Megan Schweitzer got things rolling for the Pride with a 6-4, 6-3 straight-sets victory over Turlock’s Susana Acosta.
Up 5-4 in the first set, Schweitzer was down 30-40, but rallied to take the 10th game and the set.
The second set was tied 3-3 when Schweitzer took control and closed out the match with a flurry of passing shots that painted the lines and dotted the corners.
“She usually comes out strong and struggles in the second set,” said Pitman coach Jeff Hayes. “Today, she turned that around.”
Turlock’s Lindsey Huh bested Vanessa Hulbert 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 2 singles match, while the Bulldogs’ Brynn Cardoza topped Samantha Robison 6-3, 6-3 in No. 3 singles. Sienna Buthland beat the Pride’s Nevaeh Montoya 6-2, 2-6, 10-8 in the fourth singles matchup.
Pitman’s Anjuli Avila defeated Shelby Tucker 6-4, 6-4 in No. 5 singles and Turlock’s Kennedi Amaya outlasted Winmin Tan 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 10-8 in a three-set thriller in No. 6 singles.
Pitman swept the doubles matches getting additional straight-sets victories from Christina Poulation and Katherine Volk over Samantha Enriquez and Natalia Plascencia in the No. 1 matchup, and Sofia Lear and Brianna Olson over Abril Garcia and Mia Willoughby in the No. 3 matchup.
