Ripon Christian’s coed tennis team had a chance to clinch a second straight Southern League title outright on Monday but dropped its rubber match with Denair 6-3 at the Ripon Community Center courts.

The good news is that the Knights (12-2) can still have the crown all to themselves with a win today at Waterford, a team they’ve already beaten twice this season. Ripon Christian holds a one-match lead over Denair. If the two end up sharing the top spot, Denair would earn the higher seed for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs having won two of three against RC.

Last Friday, Delhi upset Denair to give the Knights breathing room.

“The kids knew that Delhi beat Denair, so maybe it took the edge off of them,” Ripon Christian coach Mark Hoeksema said. “It seemed to relax them a little bit, maybe a little too much.”

Denair had three come-from-behind wins that went three sets that put the Coyotes over the top.

In the No. 2 boys singles match, Andrew Knapp topped RC’s Nick Van Vliet 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1. At No. 1 boys doubles, Zach Rameley and Tyler Otis defeated Mark Ozenbaugh and Dillon Zuidervaart 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The mixed doubles match was the most competitive from start to finish, as Robert Williams and Wanda Elliot edged out Tess Chang and Jake Goeringer 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.

Makenna Koslosky coasted past Kaelee Martinez 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 2 girls contest for Ripon Christian. The Knights also got wins from their girls doubles teams; Mariah Alger and Amber Lingley (6-3, 6-0) and Avery Veilleux and Hannah Lockwood (6-2, 6-4).

Today marks the end of the regular season for the SL. The year-end tournament takes place Thursday and Friday at Merced College.