ELK GROVE, Calif. – St. Francis won its Nos. 3-6 singles matches in straight sets, while the No. 2 doubles tandem of Kavya Benush and Litzy Alengaden clinched the overall team victory, helping the Troubadours hold on to a 5-4 win over Franklin in Delta League girls' tennis action.
SF picks up its third straight win, improving to 9-3 overall and 5-2 in league play.
Benush and Alengaden had the lone doubles win for he Troubies, coming away with a 7-5 in the first-set tiebreaker before posting a 6-2 second set to complete the sweep. Their doubles clincher followed straight-set wins for singles players Tatum Walbeck (6-0, 6-2), Sophia Troppmann (6-1, 6-0), Anna Dinh (6-1, 6-2) and Sarah Ramos-Lasso (6-1, 6-1) at No. 3 through No. 6, respectively. St. Francis competed without senior Caroline Niethammer, who normally plays No. 4 singles; and Claire Allaye-Chan, a regular in the doubles lineup, allowing other players to step up in their absence.
This was the 12th straight road match for St. Francis, including the three one-set mini matches on Day 1 of the Golden State Classic. Thursday's match was originally scheduled as a home date for the Troubadours, but the event relocated to Franklin due to court unavailability at SF's home venue of Rio Del Oro Sports Club.
The Troubies return to action on Tuesday for a road dual at Pleasant Grove. They finally come back to Rio Del Oro for a home matchup with Sheldon on October 12, a dual that also serves as Senior Day for three 2024 grads-to-be and a venue for the annual Letters to Loved Ones ceremony.
ST. FRANCIS 5, FRANKLIN 4
Franklin High School (Elk Grove, Calif.)
SINGLES
1. Aileena Hu (F) def. Maria McDougall (SF), 6-3, 6-1
2. Irina Salvador (F) def. Alexa Randall (SF), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Tatum Walbeck (SF) def. Ella Do (F), 6-0, 6-2
4. Sophia Troppmann (SF) def. Khloe Nguyen (F), 6-1, 6-0
5. Anna Dinh (SF) def. Paige Banigued (F), 6-1, 6-2
6. Sarah Ramos-Lasso (SF) def. Alice Hu (F), 6-1, 6-1
DOUBLES
1. Alisha Bajan/Abreesh Kaeley (F) def. Arden Garcia/Ava Ensberg (SF), 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
2. Kavya Benush/Litzy Alengaden (SF) def. Anovshka Vyas/Meghen Atwa (F), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
3. Kaitlyn Nakayama/Jayla Zuleta (F) def. Kate Jones/Anya Bilal (SF), 7-5, 6-2
