SMHS Girls Tennis Finishes Season Undefeated in Rio Hondo League and Takes Top Spots in Individual Tournament

Story by Lily Kao

The SMHS Girls Tennis Team secured an undefeated season (10-0) in the Rio Hondo League after beating Monrovia on 10/23/23.  That night, the team also celebrated their Seniors Taylor Hong, Alexa Hong, and Selene Yung (Co-Captain).

Rain postponed the start of the Individual Tournament until 10/27/23 where San Marino sent 9 girls (3 singles and 3 doubles pairs) to compete individually against the other 5 schools in the Rio Hondo League. In Round 1, all of SMHS girls advanced with Singles players Katie-Lynn Hoang (#1 Seed) and Carina Yang (#2 Seed) having byes, Doubles pairs Kate Chung/Olivia Hsu and Mia Lin/Selene Yung winning their matches 8-0, Singles Emily Xue winning her match 8-2, and Doubles pair Audrey Ranabarger/Kate Kohn winning their match 8-4.

In Round 2, Katie-Lynn Hoang, Carina Yang, and Doubles pair Kate Chung/Olivia Hsu continued to dominate winning their matches 8-0 and Mia Lin/Selene Yung won their match 8-5.  Round 3 on 10/28/23 increased to 2-set matches which Katie-Lynn Hoang won with a score of 6-0, 6-0.  Doubles Kate Chung/Olivia Hsu beat the doubles #2 Seed from Temple City 7-5, 6-4.  Carina Yang persevered and came out on top in an unbelievable match that lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes after losing the 1^st set 6-7 (12-14 tie break), winning the 2^nd set 6-4, and battling through to win the 3^rd set tie break 11-9.

In the final round, doubles Mia Lin/Selene Yung beat the doubles #2 Seed from Temple City after losing the 1^st set 3-6, winning the 2^nd set 6-4, and winning the 3^rd set tie break 11-9 awarding them 3^rd place overall in the tournament for doubles. Doubles Kate Chung/Olivia Hsu beat the doubles #1 Seed from La Canada 6-2, 6-1 earning them the top spot in the tournament for doubles.  Carina Yang defaulted in the final round due to injury, but placed 2^nd in the singles tournament.  Katie-Lynn Hoang placed 1^st in the singles tournament without losing a single game to her opponents.  The Lady Titans begin competing for the CIF-SS Division 1 title on 11/1/23 (time and place TBD).

The Lady Titans remain undefeated in the Rio Hondo League