CHS girls' tennis squad remains team to beat in Marmonte League

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers THREE'S COMPANY- From left, Calabasas senior Tiffany Harper, junior Afton Ashforth and sophomore Sabrina Gutierrez work on their respective games during practice. The defending Marmonte League champion Coyotes enter the season having not lost a league match in five years. For the last five years it's been tough to find a better girls' tennis team than the one at Calabasas High.

The Coyotes will once again enter the season as the defending Marmonte League champions. CHS also carries a league winning streak that spans five seasons. With the Coyotes returning many key players, the winning ways should continue as the team prepares for the new campaign.

"This year we have a lot of experience with 12 seniors in our tennis program," head coach Kim Kinberg said. "And like last year, we have a lot of depth, so it makes it hard for me to decide who plays and who doesn't."

Although Kinberg said the starting lineup should change from match to match depending on the opponent, the one constant for the Coyotes should be Brittney Harper, who returns for her senior year as the team's No. 1 singles player.

Last year Harper finished second overall in the Marmonte after losing to Newbury Park High junior Taylor French in the league finals. It was the first time in three years a Calabasas player didn't win the singles title. Harper won the singles title in 2005, while former Coyote Kristen McVitty won the award the previous two years before that.

"Brittney has great power and agility," Kinberg said. "She has gained a great court sense and has a lot of confidence now. I'm sure she has been working harder than ever this past summer to get her singles title back. With Taylor also back for Newbury, I'm sure those two will be battling it out once again this season."

After Harper, Kinberg said there are many options available to play either doubles or singles.

According to the fourth-year coach, senior Valerie Chang, junior Sabrina Man-Son-Hing and sophomore Florence Hernandez all are options to play singles.

While the singles play is stellar, the Coyotes' main strength could be the play of their doubles teams.

Once again, the doubles rotation could change, but the combination of Chang playing with Man-Son-Hing hasn't dropped a league match in two years. The team of Afton Ashforth playing with Tiffany Harper, Brittney's twin sister, should be a force as well.

"Valerie and I have a nice bond playing together," ManSon-Hing said. "Although it doesn't matter who I play with, I have no preference. I just want to win and have a good time playing."

Other players that should contribute to the Coyotes this season include senior Dani Stern, sophomore Sabrina Gutierrez and freshman Emily Weisberg.

While the Calabasas football team hasn't won a game in more than four seasons, the girls' tennis team has dominated during that stretch.

The team said they get their due respect from various newspapers, including this one, but what they are disappointed with is the lack of support from their own school.

"Everyone here just takes our winning for granted," Kinberg said. "Sometimes they will come to our championship game or a playoff game, but that's about it. When people see us out in the parking lot they are already in their cars ready to get out of here." Brittney Harper echoed the statements of her coach.

"I remember when the basketball coach made his team watch us last year," Harper said, with a laugh. "They seemed so bored and just couldn't wait for the bell to ring so they could leave. It is a little sad, though, that we don't get more support from this school, especially when our games are free."

As for the winning streak in league, Kinberg said it's rarely discussed.

"We never really talk about it," Kinberg said. "There is no reason for me to ever bring it up, and I don't think they talk about it that much between themselves either. They are just focused on coming out to play each and every day, and they don't look ahead."

Kinberg said she's looking forward to coaching this season, as it will be the first year in which everyone, from the seniors to the freshmen, will have spent every year under her as head coach.

"It's funny how the time goes by- like a blink of an eye," Kinberg said. "This is a good group of girls who come out ready to play, and it's been great watching them improve over the years."

The Coyotes will begin their quest to repeat as Marmonte League champions when the season kicks off Sept. 10 at home against Dos Pueblos. Calabasas' first league game is Sept. 18 at home against Royal.