The Los Altos Eagles girls tennis team wrapped up its 2024 campaign with a runner-up finish in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Girls Tennis Championship on Dec. 9 at the Sierra Sport and Racquet Club in Fresno.
In a historic season that was full of titles – the Tyler Nii Memorial in August, the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) De Anza division in October, the Central Coast Section (CCS) in November and the CIF NorCal Regional in December – the Eagles fell short in securing one final championship.
The second-ever California State Girls Tennis Championship pitted Los Altos against the 26-0 Palos Verdes Sea Kings, the CIF SoCal Regional champion and No. 1 ranked team in the United States. While the Eagles had a few losses in the season when missing top players, they were undefeated when playing with their starting lineup, setting the stage for a big time showdown between two highly talented teams. The Eagles understood how strong Palos Verdes was but were not daunted by the challenge. The entire lineup of Bella Mariona, Cory Medeiros, Emily Wu, Pallavi Mallampati, Ayana Modi, Maddie Herby, Carissa Lai, Ava Randall, Tyra Bogan and Sophia Stavrakos played high quality tennis.
In the end, Palos Verdes had a bit too much firepower and prevailed five matches to two to complete a record-setting 27-0 season. Los Altos’ match wins came at No. 1 and No. 4 singles. Los Altos’ No. 1 player, junior Mariona, currently ranked No. 5 in NorCal and No. 44 in the USA in girls 18 years and under, defeated Palos Verdes’ top player. Los Altos junior Mallampati, currently ranked No. 20 in NorCal in girls 16 years and under, delivered the Eagles’ other match victory at No. 4 singles with a nice win over a player whose Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) is slightly higher. Mallampati was undefeated in the 2024 season. After winning the first set with outstanding tennis, sophomore Wu fell just short in a close three-set loss at No. 3 singles to a highly ranked player. Many parents from both teams made the long drive to Fresno to root on their teams. With several future college athletes on the two teams and quality players throughout both lineups, it was clear that the tennis did not disappoint the crowd.
Commenting on the historic season, Mariona said, “Growing up near the Los Altos High School courts, I followed the team and had seen it do well but come up just short for many years. We continued that trend my first two years at Los Altos. I knew we were getting close but we just couldn’t get over the hump. I think the close calls in past years added to how rewarding and special this incredible season was. I am extremely proud of my teammates. Most of the competitive tennis I play is individual so it was very fun to succeed as a team.”
Los Altos coach Hung Nguyen added, “Based on the players we have, we went into the season knowing we had a good chance to go beyond where we had ever gone before. Even with a loaded roster, though, a lot of things have to go right – no injuries, no sickness, playing our best in the most pressure-packed matches. This team consistently delivered all season. The difference between a loss in the CCS semifinals and a trip to the state championship can come down to just a few points, but the difference in the experience and journey is a wide gap. It was a storybook season. I am so proud of all 18 of our players.”
As she wrapped up her storied high school tennis career, senior co-captain Bogan remarked, “As soon as we lost in the CCS semifinals a year ago, my teammates and I started talking about winning CCS and NorCal and going to state in 2024. We knew we would have the players to do it and we were determined to make it happen. We had our first official practice all the way back on Aug. 9, and it wasn’t an easy journey. There were some natural ups and downs as we progressed through the season, but we never took our eyes off of the goals. We worked hard, supported each other and played our best in the toughest matches. I have had an incredible ride on the Los Altos tennis team and am so grateful that my final season could be such a historic one. It is a dream come true.”
After four months of high school tennis, the Eagles will focus on final exams, transitioning to winter sports and getting some well-earned rest and relaxation over the upcoming school vacation. Even as the players and coaches turn their focus to other pursuits, though, they are already thinking about the 2025 season. With most of the roster coming back, the Eagles want to take it one step further and bring a California state championship to Los Altos.
