MOUNTAIN HOUSE — Hailie Kim dropped the first game of the Valley Oak League Singles Tournament final Thursday at Mountain House High.
The reigning champion faced off with Manteca High teammate Reina Ngo, freshman who had just one loss coming in.
Could there be an upset brewing?
Kim didn’t stress over it, evidenced by the 6-1, 6-0 result.
The top-seeded sophomore was a heavy favorite and could be so once again later next week as she defends her Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament crown in Roseville.
Last year, Kim knocked off then-defending league champion Riley Avila of Oakdale 6-3, 6-0 but admitted being stricken by nerves throughout.
“Well, I think there was less tension, and honestly, less tension because we’re teammates,” Kim said. “I mean, we’re pretty much family.”
Manteca coach MaryAnn Tolbert believes this to be the first all-Manteca final in the VOL girls singles tournament.
Ngo has known Kim since she started taking tennis more seriously at age 6 or 7. They previously squared off in a competitive setting just once before in their early youth but have mainly been training partners and off-court friends since.
“It was pretty fun having to face her,” Ngo said. “I think I did OK. It wasn’t the best I’ve played, but I had fun.”
Ngo is 22-2, while Kim improved to 24-0. They’ll begin the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III team playoffs next Monday, as the Buffaloes host El Capitan at in the first round. The individual tourney is on Nov. 5-6 at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club.
Kim wrapped up her phenomenal freshman campaign at 29-0, and she looks forward to experience the individual tournament with Ngo.
“I think that’s kind of cool,” Kim said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in any kind of situation like that. I get to go have fun with Reina.”
Also on Thursday was the VOL Doubles Tournament dominated by host Mountain House. The VOL champion had three tandems in the semifinals, and top-seeded Ishita Ahelleya and Vivian Zhang downed fellow Mustangs Alicia Rawat and Diya Sundar, 6-3, 6-2.
Three duos from Manteca Unified schools reached the quarterfinals: fourth-seeded Paisley Coenenberg and Rae Limbago of Manteca, No. 7 Alyson Alvarado and Ekam Ghuman of Manteca and No. 8 Mikayla Villalobos and Xitali Gonzalez of Sierra.
