Girls tennis: Undefeated Tam adds MCAL title to list of accolades

After going five years without claiming an MCAL championship banner, the Tam High girls tennis team worked quickly to dispatch Branson on Friday in the league finals.

The unbeaten regular-season champs efficiently grabbed the first sets in four of the five early matches and proceeded to overpower the Bulls 6-1 for their first league crown since 2019.

“It’s been a joy,” said first-year head coach Wally Tice. “We had the advantage of having a very strong lineup. To have many of our strong players go on early allowed us to finish quick.”

Boasting a 4-0 lead before two matches had even started, the top-seeded Tam girls (20-0) got the victory party started early, cheering on their teammates until the final point despite their insurmountable cushion.

On the court, Tam’s sister tandem of Elle Dunn, a senior, and Payton Dunn, a freshman, were the quickest of the quick with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Talia Schneiter and Noa Schachter in No. 2 doubles. The Branson duo had earned a key win on Wednesday to help the Bulls upset Redwood in the semifinals, but were no match for the Dunns.

“I think we were all just a little nervous because it was MCAL finals, but we knew we could go out there and do our best and win,” said Elle Dunn. “I’m so happy we won. Everyone here had such big contributions. Everyone brought their best and tried their best and it paid off.”

The Red-tailed Hawks continued to roll thanks to straight-set wins in order by Maya Riisgaard in No. 4 singles, Siena Moglen in No. 3 singles and freshman Bianca Botero-Cortes in No. 2 singles.

In the late matches, Tam’s talented freshman Chloe Mouret-Lafage defeated Katie Warrin 6-4, 6-1, and Annika Hakes and Maria-Jose Stuart won in No. 1 doubles.

Branson’s lone win came at No. 3 doubles by Anna Jacobs and Kaylee Jiang.

Tice praised his captains for setting a championship tone, especially for his three freshmen who have been instrumental in Tam’s success. The captains are Hakes, Stuart, Elle Dunn and Tessa Harrell.

“They have helped build the team camaraderie with various events,” Tice said of his captains. “Those things paid off with cohesion and team loyalty, and that’s what team tennis is all about.”

Tam expects to earn a berth in the new eight-team North Coast Section Open Division, which starts Nov. 11. Branson is the defending NCS Division II champ.

Before NCS, the Red-tailed Hawks and Bulls will be vying for MCAL singles and doubles honors Monday through Wednesday at Novato High. Tam players earned two of the top three singles seeds with No. 2 Mouret-Lafage and No. 3 Moglen, who could meet in the semifinals.

The top seed is San Marin’s Devanshi Shrestha.