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Manteca’s Hailie Kim cruises to semifinals in quest to repeat as SJS D-II singles champ
Manteca girls tennis
Manteca teammates Hailie Kim, left, and Reina Ngo with their medals after facing off in the Valley Oak League Singles Tournament final last Thursday, Oct. 29 at Mountain House High. Both competed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament on Thursday. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Manteca High sophomore Hailie Kim is back in the semifinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament.

The defending singles champion was joined by freshman teammate Reina Ngo on Thursday at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville.

The top-seeded Kim dusted her first two opponents, 6-0, 6-0, improving to 27-0 on the season. She first took on Milla Pineda of Beyer before facing Dal Campo’s Mila Besirevic.

Ngo (24-3) had a tough draw for the second round. She opened with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Pacheco’s Angela Gomez-Vega, but that earned her a quarterfinal match with No. 2 seed Emily Wong. The Rodriguez senior is a three-time SJS Division II doubles champion. Wong defeated Ngo, 6-1, 6-2.

Two players from San Joaquin Athletic Association team champion Tokay will challenge Kim and Wong in the semifinals.

Kim is set to face fourth-seeded Chloe Lowe, while Wong is matched with SJAA champion and No. 3 seed Kano Shimoji.

The semifinal round begins this morning at 10.

The season is not yet over for Ngo, with Manteca still in contention in the SJS Division III team tournament. The No. 4 Buffaloes travel to No. 1 Placer in the semifinal round next Monday.