KELSEYVILLE >> A rivalry thoroughly dominated by Kelseyville in recent years took a new turn on Wednesday afternoon as the Clear Lake Cardinals not only beat the Knights in a Coastal Mountain Conference tennis match, but they won 5-0 on Kelseyville’s home courts.
“We’re a very young team,” Kelseyville coach Laurie Vargas said of a Knights squad that graduated many of its top players last spring, including Vargas’ own daughter Claire. “But we have 21 kids out playing tennis.”
The Knights were making their season debut against a Clear Lake squad playing its third match. The Cardinals are now 1-2, including 1-1 in conference play.
In singles action, Ethan Jones defeated Josh Bridges 6-4, 7-5 in No. 1 singles; Liam Stahl beat Milly Cacho 6-0, 6-1 in No. 2 singles; and Scotty Mather knocked off Merin Rixen 6-3, 6-2 in No. 3 singles.
In doubles play, Sereno Dominguez and Bobby Lasher beat Alex Sanchez and Fernie Garcia 6-3, 6-2 in No. 1 doubles while Lexi Burke and Subhagya Joshi defeated Kristen Amendola and Emma Farrell 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in No. 2 doubles.
Two exhibitions matches also took place. Stacy Partridge and Helen Rodriguez of Clear Lake defeated Kara Vartebedian and Laurel Weller of Kelseyville 6-1, 6-1 in the first while Emma and Hailey Miller of Kelseyville beat Clear Lake’s Dylan Bennett and Will Green 6-0, 3-6, 7-2 (tiebreaker) in the second.
While many of the Knights are still learning the game or even playing it for the first time, Vargas said there is plenty of talent out there. Speaking of Bridges’ play in No. 1 singles, Vargas said, “He played amazingly well for a sophomore and first-time player. He played strong. I’m looking forward to seeing him play this season.”
Kelseyville visits St. Helena on Friday.
