Warrior netters win league opener

Fallbrook High School’s girls tennis team prepared itself for league competition with a tough pre-league schedule which left the Warriors 1-4 entering their Avocado East League opener September 22 against Mission Hills at the Fallbrook Tennis Club, and the preparation paid off as Fallbrook took a 15-3 victory over the Grizzlies.

“We did good,” said Fallbrook coach Dave Ramirez.

Fallbrook’s doubles team swept their nine sets. Fallbrook’s #1 doubles team of sophomores Skyler Schaar and Nataliya Yankova included a 6-0 victory among their three set wins. The #2 doubles team of sophomore Hailey Tucker and junior Joellen Banks won all three sets, as did the #3 doubles team of junior Kathleen Young and senior Holly Contreras.

Warrior junior Monica Robinson won all three of her singles sets against the Grizzlies, including a 6-0 triumph. The league debut of junior Andrea Rybarova saw the Slovak exchange student win all three of her sets, including one by a 6-0 score.

The Warriors began the season with four losses to teams which reached last year’s CIF playoffs before taking a 14-4 home win over El Camino in their final non-league match September 15. The Warriors followed their league opener with an 11-7 win September 27 at Vista and a 15-3 triumph September 29 at San Marcos, making Fallbrook 3-0 in Avocado East League competition while evening the Warriors’ overall record at 4-4.

“Now we’re ready to go,” Ramirez said. “The girls are working hard. They’re focused now, and they’re excited about their opportunity to win league.”

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