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For Buffs, T-shirt time at Cali Classic
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Manteca High’s girls tennis team got some valuable court time and, best of all, new T-shirts in its annual trip to the California Classic in Fresno.

The Buffaloes won the Division 7 bracket Saturday at Bullard High for a title after a seeing stiff competition on opening day.

“The weekend was a huge success that ended not only with a lot of experience and team bonding, but a championship shirt to return home with,” Manteca coach MaryAnn Tolbert said.

Manteca began bracket action with a 6-0 sweep of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth). None of the individual matches were close, as Elizabeth Tolbert (6-0, 6-0), Sealy McAdams (6-1, 6-0), Allison Rachels (6-0, 6-0), Kaitlyn Hoyer/Alondra Avila (6-2, 6-1), Katie Indertbizin/Rubel Dehal (6-0, 6-0) and Stefania Mercado/Koryn Menasco all won decisively.

The Buffaloes defeated Delano 4-2 in the finale. McAdams (6-1, 6-1), Rachels (6-1, 6-1), Inderbizin/Hoyer (6-0, 6-2) and Avila/Menasco (6-1, 6-0) contributed to the team score. The No. 3 doubles team of Julianne Eavenson and Gladis Sandoval were competitive in a three-set loss, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-10.

Friday’s results

Coach Tolbert was pleased with her team’s effort despite it going 0-3 in group play. Facing unknown opponents, she mixed up her ladder in every match to give her veterans a chance to play doubles and younger players to compete in singles.

The Buffs opened with a 4-2 loss to Madera. McAdams (6-1, 6-0) and Rachels (6-4, 6-3) were the victors for Manteca, but the other contests were also winnable. Elizabeth Tolbert fell to Flora Flores 5-7, 5-7 in the No. 1 singles match, which lasted about 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Manteca then battled Lemoore to a 3-3 stalemate but lost the tiebreaker — Lemoore got the edge on sets won, 7-6. Rachels (6-2, 6-4) was Manteca’s lone winner in singles. Elizabeth Tolbert joined Sandoval to claim a well-contested doubles match, 5-7, 6-0, 11-9. Hoyer and Avila prevailed, 6-0, 6-4.

The Buffs dropped their final match to Nevada Union, 4-2. This time, their top two players, McAdams and Tolbert, teamed up at No. 1 doubles and cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory. Hoyer and Avila also swept their match, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5).

“We lost all three but the experience our girls were able to gain was immeasurable,” coach Tolbert said.