The 2015 Turlock High School girls’ varsity tennis team is unlike any other team that head coach Linda Bejaran has had in her recent years.
Although every one of Bejaran’s recent teams have been special in one way or another, none seem to have what this year’s team does—humility—unlike she has never seen before in this age group.
A team that is well beyond their years, the Turlock Bulldogs who went 4-1 during preseason play is now 2-0 in the Central California Conference after dominating Merced High on Thursday in an 8-1 result.
“From what I can remember, this is our biggest point spread win against Merced because in the past Merced is usually one of our toughest competition,” Bejaran said. “We felt good about the win especially against a team like Merced.”
Heading into the new season this year, the lady Bulldogs were just a different team and it was apparent to Bejaran.
She decided to continue to lean more towards that attitude and after seven contests, including preseason, the team is looking just as good as any of the past seven CCC Championship teams.
“The girls should be proud because they are just great girls overall with fantastic attitudes and they work hard as a team, and it is all about us and the team,” said Bejaran. “Very happy with the girls, they are great.”
Complimented by their recent opponents and peers, the lady ‘Dogs have a sense of calmness and love for the game, which transcends on to the court and outside of it as well.
“If the other girl on the other team has a good shot then our girls compliment them and they are very fair, true sportsmanship, they prove it,” Bejaran said. “They play fair and they are humble.”
Against Merced, the Bulldogs took it to them starting with the singles as four of the top five singles players won their matches in straight sets with the exception of Maya Young’s match against Jul Tiu.
Eventually Young won the matches decisively, 6-1, 4-6 and 6-1.
“Maya went three but still I was very impressed with her ability to re-focus and get back into her game and win that third set by winning her game,” Bejaran said. “It is not easy to do and she did that, and able to go out on that court and play her game to win it”
The top two singles players in Rebekka Cripe and Courtnie Chan won their games in straight sets.
The team’s only defeat came in the number six singles where Laura Rabago of Merced topped Sophie Winfree, 6-4 and 6-4.
The next contest for the Turlock Tennis team will be a at home against Golden Valley at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
