MHHS Girls Tennis Team takes on the Rocklin Thunder

.The MHHS Girls Tennis Team traveled all the way to Rocklin (2 hours away) to take on the #1 team in the entire Sac-San Joaquin section, the Rocklin Thunder.  Not only did Rocklin win the Division 1 sectionals last year, they also won in 2015 and 2018.  While Thunder dominated some matches, the Mustangs (only in our 5th year of girls tennis) fought hard and made it a very competitive match losing 3-6 in blistering 100+ degree temperatures. 
 
In fact, the Mustangs were 2 third set tie-breakers away from an epic upset.  Sophomore Anya Palsson kicked off the scoring by winning her match at #5 singles 6-2, 6-4 and was awarded the Player of the Match Award.  Sophomore Anisha Pandey also won at #4 singles 7-6, 6-4.  After falling behind 2-4 in the team match, the Mustangs needed to win all 3 of the remaining matches to score the upset.  Sophomore twins Akweley and Akuokor Sai fought hard to come back from 1 set down to take the match to a third set tie-breaker but lost a close one to the Thunder #1 doubles team.  Senior Jannat Baig and Junior Neha Bhaskarabhotla won their #3 doubles match in convincing fashion 6-1, 6-3.  Even though the Thunder had clinched the victory 5-3 at that point, all eyes were on the #1 singles match between the Mustang's Senior Captain Malvika Seth and the Thunder's #1 Erin Johnson.  While Seth played masterfully in the first set winning 6-4, Johnson battled back and dominated the second set 6-1.  The third set tie-breaker was back and forth with several ties including at 6-6 and 7-7.  In the end, Johnson blasted a powerful forehand by Seth while leading 9-8 to clinch the 3rd set tie-breaker 10-8.  "While we did not win, I am proud of the way my players fought out there against the best team in the entire section" said Coach Su.
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