While the Carson High boys tennis team took care of business on Tuesday against North Tahoe, what transpired on Monday may have been more important.
Carson coach Pat Houlihan said the team had a meeting on Monday to put its thoughts together "to find out what it's going to take to go as far as we can."
The meeting was held after Thursday's 12-6 loss to Reno High in a showdown for first in the Sierra League. While the Senators played well, they lost many critical points to the Huskies. "The key points are huge," Houlihan said. "I call it the integrity of the game."
With many of its top players sitting out, Carson beat North Tahoe 14-4 on Tuesday at the CHS courts. The win set up a showdown for second in the Sierra League at Douglas High on Thursday.
The winner will clinch the Sierra League's No. 2 seed and a first round home playoff match next week against the High Desert League's No. 3 seed. "It's going to determine second place," Houlihan said. "We'll see what happens."
Against North Tahoe, Carson played a team that had just one doubles team. In singles, Spencer Brinson won both of his matches 6-2, 6-3, Jeff Van Epps won 6-4 and Ben Henningson won 6-2. Alex and Tyler Wing also played well in singles before both lost 4-6.
In doubles, James Pelz and Jordan Rogers won 6-3, Grant Jeppson and Nathaniel Hamer won 6-1 and Spencer Trapp and Ian Gentner won 6-4.
CHS GIRLS 15, NORTH TAHOE 3
Carson clinched a playoff spot and set up a showdown with Douglas for third in the Sierra League on Thursday at the CHS courts. The winner will receive the Sierra League's No. 3 seed in the playoffs and will likely travel to McQueen for the first round of the playoffs, meaning it will avoid playing Galena in the first round.
"We're looking for that win and working on McQueen," said Carson coach Diane Baker Roberts about her team's obvious goal.
In singles, Christa Casci won 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, Lisa Midboe won 6-2, 6-2 and played well in a 4-6 loss, Elise Hansen won 7-6 (7-5) and Elizabeth Gohr played well in a 4-6 loss.
Carson swept the doubles. Emily Wang and Kristin Charles won 6-1, 6-0, Sarah Asp and Michelle Mauer won 6-0, 6-1, Jenni Hood and Kristi Philippi won 6-0, 7-5, Meagan Carter and Alyssa Corda won 6-1, Paige Miller and Charles won 7-6 (10-8), Joanna Xie and Jenna Greenburg won 6-0.