The Marin Academy girls tennis team won a pair of momentum-shifting, three-set matches to beat Marin Catholic 5-2 in the first round of the North Coast Section Division II playoffs on Tuesday at Marin Tennis Club in San Rafael.
Marin Academy’s No. 4 singles player Shaleez Rezavi, a freshman, pulled out a 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 victory over Kate Block. Five minutes later, the No. 3 doubles team of Elsa Schutt and Alex Eisler completed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win against Noemi Jackovics and Emma Taylor for an insurmountable lead with two matches still left to play.
“Once the momentum started, it didn’t stop,” said Marin Academy’s senior co-captain and No. 1 singles player Sofia Prieto. “We’ve trained hard. We deserve this.”
Prieto added to Marin Academy’s dominant performance with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Mina Ahmadi.
Sixth-seeded Marin Academy (12-4) advances to the NCS quarterfinals for the second consecutive year and faces Bay Counties League West rival University on Thursday at Mack High Courts. Prieto said Marin Academy has never beaten University in her four years on the team, but she thinks things are about to change.
“I think we can do it,” said Prieto. “As captains I think we have tried to set a good example. I’m proud of everyone.”
Sophomore Cait Jenkyn got Marin Academy’s party started with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sofia Guerra at No. 2 singles. Jenkyn used a variety of shots, including slices and loopy balls mixed with deep drives, to keep Guerra off balance.
Although Guerra took an early 2-1 lead in the second set, Jenkyn settled down to reel off five consecutive games, showing a determination that proved contagious.
Marin Academy freshman Dearing Fife defeated Elise Hohenreider 6-2, 6-3, to help her team sweep the four singles matches.
The No. 3 doubles match offered the most intrigue of the day since the team match was still hanging in the balance before it was complete. Geoff Martinez, in his 23rd season as coach at Marin Academy, decided to use two of his top all-around athletes on the court together for what proved to be the deciding victory.
Schutt and Eisler also play basketball and lacrosse for Marin Academy. Their combined athleticism was evident, especially at the net, which pleased Martinez.
“I’ve been telling the girls to go for the ball at the net,” said Martinez. “They moved a lot more at the net today.”
Schutt held serve in the eighth game of the third set and showed tremendous patience from the back court. Eisler added two key volleys as Marin Academy pulled ahead 5-3. On match point, Eisler sliced the ball just over the net and it bounced twice in front of her opponent to seal Marin Academy’s team win.
Marin Catholic (12-6) got wins at No. 1 doubles from Katie Miller and Charlotte Hachman, and at No. 2 doubles by Anna Wermer and Katie Compagno.
