Girls tennis: Redwood prevails in battle of unbeatens

Julia Laury has witnessed the growing rivalry between Redwood High and the Branson School the past two years, so she brought everything she had Tuesday for the marquee matchup between the MCAL’s last two unbeaten girls tennis teams.

“This is the biggest competition of the season in the MCAL,” Laury said. “We beat them last year and we won the pennant. They beat us my freshman year and they won the pennant. It’s a great rivalry between two great teams.”

The Redwood junior found her footing for a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Branson freshman Paloma Vano-Rice at No. 3 singles that pushed the momentum around the courts at College of Marin in favor of the Giants. The win gave the Giants a solid 3-1 lead with the top two singles matches and the final doubles match just starting.

The Giants were leading 5-1 as the final match at No. 2 singles was postponed due to darkness, with Branson’s Katie Warrin leading Ella Povio. That match will be rescheduled and completed at a date to be decided.

“I didn’t know the depth of this Redwood team,” said Tracey Porter, who took over the head coaching duties for the Giants this season. “They are all super-solid. I am impressed with them daily.”

Redwood and Branson are scheduled to meet again on Oct. 18 in Larkspur in the final regular-season match before the MCAL playoffs.

“This is always exciting for the competition,” Branson head coach Christine Costamagna said. “We know this will be the toughest competition we see, although there are some other great teams in Marin. Redwood is a challenge every time. … I hope we see them in the MCAL finals.”

Laury admitted she struggled at first in her match against Vano-Rice, but started her comeback once they switched sides. Laury’s easy footwork and confidence kept pushing her during the match.

“I played slower than usual, slower than I’m used to, because (Vano-Rice) liked that pace,” Laury said. “Other than that, it was pretty much even. We both like the low, flat balls.”

Vano-Rice started to threaten a comeback of her own in the second set, but Laury was able to answer her big shots.

“Laury just got after it,” Porter said. “She had to work hard for that match and she got it done. It was neck-and-neck throughout, but Laury’s a strong player and she’s getting better.”

Vano-Rice has stepped up as a key player in Branson’s ladder this season, after the Bulls lost their top singles player, Anna Rende, earlier in the year to a fractured pelvis suffered in a car accident. All the rest of the Bulls players have stepped up admirably to try to fill the void.

Redwood’s Jordan Marotto battled 6-1, 6-3 past Branson’s Audrey Gilmore, who played No. 3 singles last season. The Giants’ Molly Gallagher defeated Simone Schacter 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 singles, the first match off the court. But Laury and Vano-Rice took the spotlight early on.

“(Vano-Rice) has a big serve,” Costamagna said. “During tryouts, all the other players were watching her serve and they were impressed. Her game really doesn’t match her size.”