Girls tennis: Redwood breaks through for section title

With her team sitting on three victories and needing just one more to secure its first girls tennis section title since 2001, Redwood’s Julia Povio was able to see out the match at No. 2 singles, leading the Giants to their second upset victory of the day.

The No. 3 Giants started off with a 4-3 victory against No. 2 Miramonte in the North Coast Section Division I semifinals before Povio got the decisive point in an eventual 5-2 victory against top-seeded Monte Vista in the final.

“I’m just blown away,” Redwood coach Tracey Porter said. “The girls just played so well and it was really fun.”

Redwood’s last section crown came 22 years ago when they also put together a string of upsets as the No. 8 seed, taking down No. 1 Miramonte, No. 4 Piedmont, and then No. 6 Tam down in the final.

The Giants qualify for next week’s NorCal playoffs which take place on Friday and Saturday. Prior to that, however, are the NCS singles and doubles tournaments, which are set for Monday and Tuesday.

Redwood also got victories in the championship match from Julia Laury at No. 3 singles, Gwenn Ricordel at No. 4 singles, Annesley Krawitt/Ella Povio at No. 1 doubles and Lindsey Reed/Livia Klompus at No. 2 doubles.

Against Miramonte, Laury and Ricordel were victorious in singles matches. Krawitt/Ella Povio and Reed/Klompus were victorious at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, respectively.

MA falls

Marin Academy saw its hopes for a North Coast Section D-II title slip away as Bishop O’Dowd rallied for a 4-3 victory in Saturday’s semifinals.

Fifth-seeded Marin Academy was looking to upset top-seeded Bishop O’Dowd in the semifinals. The Wildcats led 3-2 with the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles still on the courts.

The Wildcats’ Jane McDermott slammed home a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 4 singles before Ann McDermott won her match at No. 3 singles 6-3, 6-0. Amelia Thomas gave Marin Academy the advantage with her 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles.

Marin Academy couldn’t complete the sweep of the singles ladder, leaving it up to the No. 1 doubles team to clinch the win. Bishop O’Dowd overpowered the Wildcats duo, however, to claim the pennant.