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BUFFS GOING FOR SJS TITLE
Manteca dominates Merced to earn 3rd trip to section title
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Manteca’s Makenna Condit focuses on her backhand. Manteca defeated El Capitan-Merced 7-2 Monday in the Sac Joaquin Section Division III semifinals at Manteca High. - photo by Photos by SEAN KAHLER

As a result of slapping El Capitan of Merced 7-2 Monday in the Sac Joaquin Section Division III semifinals, Manteca is headed for familiar territory – the SJS finals. This will be the third year in a row for the Buffaloes who won the prestigious blue banner in 2016.

 “This is our third straight year of going to the section finals,” Manteca coach MaryAnn Tolbert said. “We won it two years ago and we were the runner-up last year. Getting through today was the main priority and now we will wait and see who we are playing and then deal with that. 

 “This is what we practice for and we’re excited. This is a testament to how hard these girls work. We start playing in June when it is hot and at our top we have one of the most competitive leagues. The girls worked very hard and have earned everything they got this year, especially after graduating four seniors last year.”

 The Buffaloes’ Ellie Kim was the lone straight-sets winner on the day, downing Anna Gugorguieva 6-0, 6-0. 

“I just did what needed to be done,” Kim said. “I was told to get down and take care of business and that’s what I did.

 “It’s exciting to be playing for the section championship. I’m pretty sure we are all ready to go.”

 The magic number is five in these tennis matches, and Noeli Mercado and Melissa Ponicini got the fifth win of the day for Manteca with a 6-4, 6-3 doubles win. 

 “It was a hard match,” Foncini said. “My partner and I made sure we were focused and kept doing what we had been doing all season.”

 Isabella Huerta and Danielle Diaz almost picked up a straight-sets doubles win with a 6-0, 6-1 win. Yanki Ma and Kalissa Martin rounded out the Buffaloes doubles sweep, 6-4, 6-3.

 Sahiba Kaur (6-3, 6-3), Makenna Condit (6-0, 6-2) and Kerren Zou (6-1, 6-1) won singles matches for No. 2 Manteca. 

 Jenasis Yarell and Paula Almeda won singles matches for the No.3 Gauchos with Yarell downing Julia Tang 6-2, 6-1 and Almeda sneaking past Navina Mann 6-6 (2-7), 6-1, 7-10.

 The Buffaloes travel to the Laguna Creek Racquet Club on Wednesday at 3 p.m. to face either top-seeded Mira Lom