STOCKTON — The “curse” has been reversed for Manteca High senior Elizabeth Tolbert.
After consecutive third-place finishes in the Valley Oak League Doubles Tournament the past two years, she — along with sophomore Koryn Menasco — finally advanced to the final round Thursday at Weston Ranch.
Happy to be there but not entirely satisfied, she and Menasco outclassed Oakdale’s Danika Brown and Cory Barney 6-2, 6-2 for the title. Also on Thursday was the singles finale. Second-seeded Claire Banks of Sierra dropped a 2-6, 2-6 decision to Central Catholic’s AmieArdis.
“Past two years Sealy (McAdams) and I got third so it finally feels great to get past that curse and actually make it to the finals and win it” Tolbert said.
The top-seeded pair started with a first-round bye and defeated Haley Takaki and Maddie Brewer, 8-1, and Weston Ranch’s Mary and April Vang, 8-3.
Tolbert and Menasco hit a rough patch early in its semifinal match with No. 4 Alyssa McPhee and Rosella Rangel of Central Catholic. The first set was more competitive than it should have been, but the two Buffaloes struggled to put away routine shots. They advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 win.
“We were messing around and kind of got a out of it, but we got back in the swing of things and finished strong,” Tolbert said.
Tolbert and Menasco had never previously teamed up in doubles but they enjoyed the experience. Menasco was elevated to the No. 2 singles spot midway through the VOL season and may be Tolbert’s replacement at the top of the ladder.
“It was so much fun, especially since we’re friends both on and off the court. It’s awesome,” Menasco said.
Tolbert reached the semifinals in the singles tournament on Tuesday but opted not to compete for third place and a spot in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament as a singles competitor. She’ll instead make it as part of a doubles team. The top three singles and doubles placers move onto sections held at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville on Nov. 5-6.
“There are some good girls, so hopefully if we lose we can at least get some games off of them and get some experience,” Tolbert said.
Banks will join them there with her second-place finish in the singles tournament. Her only losses to league opposition have been to Ardis, the 2014 runner-up.
“I’ve never played against someone who puts so much spin on her shots,” Banks said. “It’s really new to me to play someone like that so I had to try and work around that while still playing my game.”
Only a junior, Banks will be the VOL’s top returning player next year with Ardis graduating in the spring. She hasn’t thought that far ahead, choosing instead to focus on the task in front of her.
“She definitely deserves to win and I’m happy for her,” Banks said of Ardis. “It was my goal to make it to sections so I’m really happy with how I did.”
