Westlake Suffers a Twin Setback

CLAREMONT —  The otherwise brilliant singles careers of Westlake High twins Erin and Katy Smith came to a disappointing end Tuesday, when the Warriors lost to Irvine Woodbridge in the Southern Section Division III girls’ tennis final at the Claremont Club.

The match ended in a 9-9 tie, but Woodbridge won the championship based on an 88-74 advantage in games won.

With doubles completed and Westlake holding an 8-7 lead, all eyes focused on the three remaining singles sets. The Warriors, who had swept all six singles points, appeared in good shape, needing to win two of the final three sets to clinch the title.

But the weight of carrying the team for most of the season finally became too much to bear for Westlake’s singles players. Erin Smith dropped her set to Woodbridge No. 1 player Adriana Hockicko, 6-2, and Katy Smith lost to No. 2 Rachel Gunther by the same score.

“That is so much pressure for them,” Westlake Coach Connie Flanderka said. “They have risen to the occasion throughout the last two years, but you just can’t think they are going to sweep all the time.”

The Smiths do sweep most of the time. They finished the season with a combined 121-17 record in sets and have lost in the same match only twice this season. Their two-year combined record is 229-29 and Flanderka said they will be missed off the court just as much.

“I’m bummed [they are leaving],” Flanderka said. “Erin and Katy are always organizing things for the team and getting them together. Not only are they good players but they are the team leaders.”

Evidence of that came when Katy, who won her first two sets in tiebreakers and walked off the court after her third-set loss in tears, quickly regrouped to console other teammates who were also crying.

“I’m going to miss the team and the team unity,” Katy said. “It’s a big jump from high school to college. This is more about fun and I’ll miss that. And I’m going to miss Mrs. Flanderka.”

Flanderka, who has coached the Warriors for 19 seasons and to four Southern Section championships, hinted that the end of her career is on the horizon.

“There’s been a lot to talk about this season,” she said.

“A lot of interesting things happened and there were times that I was looking forward to the end.”

In the Division IV final, Chaminade lost seven of nine doubles sets in falling to Fullerton Rosary, 10-8.

The Eagles (21-1) did not take the loss too hard, however. They look forward to next season when they return all but two starters.

“I think what hurt us, and I’m surprised it didn’t hurt us earlier, is that we didn’t have a lot of tough matches,” Chaminade Coach Andy Berenson said.

“I’m happy with our record, but it’s not what you want. I think you want three or four losses.”

Berenson plans to schedule tougher opponents next season, and he is considering petitioning to move up to Division III.

Teresa Galido, Kinsley Carnahan and Tina Kapadia each won two of three singles sets for the Eagles.