For Burbank High and Burroughs, the Pacific League girls’ tennis season is coming to a conclusion.
There are a few matches left beside Tuesday’s which the host Bulldogs captured 13-5 over the Indians.
Burbank, which swept both meetings from Burroughs (5-7 and 4-6 in league), is hoping for second place in league in order to get a more favorable seeding for the upcoming CIF Southern Section playoffs.
The only team that has defeated Burbank is first-place Arcadia, which won 14-4.
The Bulldogs (12-1 and 9-1 in league) pay a visit to the Apaches on Oct. 18 and end the regular-season campaign at home versus Crescenta Valley two days later.
Senior Nicole Merrit, Burbank’s No. 1 singles, claimed her matches 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 and knocked off No. 1 freshman Chloe Bookmyer, No. 2 junior Angelea Hayes and No. 3 junior Ellie Masson.
“It’s been a great year,” said Merrit, who hopes to play college tennis. “We’ve worked very hard and I think it shows.”
Merrit also believes the team is playing well at the right time.
“I think we’re definitely rising,” she said. “It’s kind of sad to see it coming to an end because I’ve had so much fun.”
Merrit addressed the upcoming playoffs. “We have to look at it a little different because it’s single elimination, but I think we’re going to do well,” she noted.
At No. 2, freshman Kristina Kirakosyan prevailed 6-1 over Bookmyer and 6-0 over junior Ellie Masson, who knocked off Burbank freshman Shushan Papoyan, 6-4.
At No. 3, junior Alice Avedikian went 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 as she beat senior Tricia Valadez, Hayes and junior Jackie Samsell.
The Indians grabbed four of the nine doubles matches to make it somewhat close.
The Indians’ No. 1 doubles tandem of senior Jennifer Drechsler and sophomore Sandy LeMay defeated No. 1 sophomore Johana Faraj and freshman Elza Vardanyan 6-4.
Burroughs’ No. 2 duo of junior Anny Yoo and sophomore Savannah Dorris were 6-3 winners over Faraj/Vardanyan.
Faraj/Vardanyan downed Burbank’s No. 3 tandem of junior Leah Prystupa and junior Yshbel Piedrasanta 6-0.
Burbank’s No. 2 junior Krystal Hirahara and junior Emilie Siraki beat Yoo/Dorris 6-0.
Drechsler/LeMay continued their strong play by beating Prystupa/Piedrasanta 6-3.
Senior Britni Friedman and freshman Bella Stevens defeated Prystupa/Piedrasanta 6-1, and junior Camryn Thompson and junior Emma Jones 6-1, but lost to Drechsler/LeMay 6-1.
Writer’s Note: In the first meeting between the two schools, Bookmyer played in one set, which she lost 6-4, and was replaced in the other two sets due to illness.
